RIL first gas discovery in KG

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announces the first gas discovery in exploratory block KG-DWN-2003/1 (KG-V-D3) of NELP-V. The block KG-DWN-2003/1 is located about 50 kilometers from Machalipatnam, in Andhra Pradesh in the deep waters of the Krishna Basin in the Bay of Bengal. It covers an area of 3288 Sq. Km. The gas discovery has been struck in the very first exploratory well in this block. RIL holds 90% participating interest (PI) and Hardy Exploration and Production India Inc holds balance 10% in the block.

The well KG-V-D3-A1 was drilled at a water depth of 716 m, to a total depth of 1937 m, with the objective of exploring Pliestocene deep water fan complex play fairway. A thick reservoir was encountered with gross hydrocarbon column of around 84 meters in Pliestocene the potential of which was evaluated through wire-line based technology called Modular Dynamic Testing (MDT).

Subsequently the well flowed at a rate of 38.1 MMscfd on conventional testing. This play fairway is expected to cover a large area of the block. This discovery, named ‘Dhirubhai - 39’ has been notified to Government of India and Directorate General of Hydrocarbons. The potential commercial interest of the discovery is being ascertained through more data gathering and analysis.