Sakhalin Project Management From ONGC - Appreciates by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Mr Dharmendra Pradhan appreciated the way Sakhalin-1 project in Russia is being managed by ONGC, during his recent visit to Russia. ONGC’s 100 per cent subsidiary ONGC Videsh Limited has 20 per cent stake in Sakhalin-1 project, a joint project of India and Russia. This prolific oil-producing project was initiated during the time of former Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Petroleum Minister said, “I am happy at the way this project has been setting records in the industry and has become the most successful investment decision of India till now. It happened due to vision of our former Prime Minister late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee for developing energy links with Russia”.

The Minister was accompanied by ONGC CMD Shri Shashi Shanker. Shri Shanker shared the technological advancements achieved in the project and emphasized on replicating some of the relevant technologies in ONGC domestic projects in India.

The Petroleum Minister was also accompanied by officials from the Ministry and Indian Embassy in Moscow, EIL CMD and senior management officials from Rosneft  (partner National Oil Company in the Sakhalin-1 project) and professionals from Exxon Neftegaz Limited (Operator of the project).

During his visit, the Minister spent time and interacted with ONGC engineers who work in temperatures around minus 40 degree Celsius in winter.

Mr. Pradhan also visited the Rig ‘Krechet’ which is the biggest and most powerful land rig in the world. It is a covered rig which allows people to work in extreme temperatures (-40° Celsius in winter) and has capability to drill up to 14 kilometers horizontally.

National Water Awards 2019 - Oil and Natural Gas Corporation India

In an attempt to provide an impetus to efforts of Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation for water conservation, National Water Awards had been instituted last year for various categories. The 2nd National Water Awards 2019 has been launched for FY 2019-20. The last date of submitting entries is 30 November 2019.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has been made nodal agency for submission of application forms etc for Award. General public may be asked to refer to websites ONGC India for further information.

ONGC Videsh makes two new discoveries in Colombia and Brazil

ONGC Videsh has recorded discoveries of oil in its onshore exploration block CPO-5, Colombia in the Llanos basin and major gas in the deep offshore exploration block BM-SEAL-4, Brazil in the Sergipe Alagoas Basin.

Well Sol-1, Colombia

Well Sol-1, in the block CPO-5 encountered the oil bearing sands of 8 meters at a depth of 2852m. Oil discovery in Sol-1 confirms the extent of oil pay further south of the block. ONGC Videsh had earlier discovered commercial oil in the same pay in wells Mariposa-1 and Indico-1 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Both the wells are under production now.

ONGC Videsh, as Operator, holds 70% participating interest (PI) in CPO-5 block. The balance 30% PI is owned by Petrodorado South America S.A., Sucursal (PDSA), Colombia.

Well Moita Bonita-2, Brazil

Petrobras as operator of BM-SEAL-4 consortium with ONGC Videsh, completed drilling of the well Moita Bonita-2 in deep offshore Brazil located in the Moita Bonita Area (block BM-SEAL-4) at a water depth of 2629m and encountered gas bearing sand of total thickness of 39m at the depth of 5227m and oil bearing sand of total thickness of 24m at deeper depths. Drill Stem Test (DST) was performed in the gas carrier interval 5252m to 5291m, and the result showed good production from the reservoir.

Petrobras is the Operator of the consortium (75% PI) and partners ONGC Videsh (25% PI). The consortium plan to continue the operational activities to evaluate the discovery to ascertain its commerciality.

ONGC Videsh has a significant presence in oil & gas sector of Brazil and Colombia. It holds stakes in seven exploratory blocks. In addition, ONGC Videsh is the joint owner of the oil producing company Mansarovar Energy Colombia Ltd (MECL) along with its partners Sinopec of China. In Brazil, ONGC Videsh holds 27% PI in the offshore BC-10 block.

ONGC signs MoU with EXXONMobil for study in PEL offshore blocks and open acreage areas

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US petroleum giant EXXON-Mobil on 14 October 2019. This MoU will enable the two petroleum companies to undertake joint technical studies and cooperate in frontier areas like deep water and other Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) blocks of ONGC in east and west coast and open acreages for joint bidding.

The MoU was signed on the side-lines of IHS-CERAWeek at Delhi by ONGC Director (Exploration) Mr R K Srivastava and EXXON-Mobil CEO, South Asia Mr William P Davis in the presence of Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Petroleum Secretary, Dr. M M Kutty and ONGC CMD Mr. Shashi Shanker.

The work under the MoU will be carried out in three phases. This will lead to a joint technical study for potential collaboration areas.

Talking after the MoU, Vice President Asia Pacific EXXONMobil Mr Michael Deal said, “We welcome the opportunity to work with ONGC and apply our collective expertise to be an even bigger part of India’s bright energy future”.

ONGC CMD Mr Shashi Shanker said, “This meaningful partnership with EXXONMobil will be a step towards unlocking value in ONGC PEL offshore blocks, study open acreage areas and enable us to get closer to meeting Country’s energy aspirations”.