The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Krishna-Godavari basin, Rajahmundry, is all set to start the drilling of eight new oil and gas wells.
The project, code named G-1 and GS-15 Field Development Project, involving drilling of five new oil wells and three gas wells respectively, will cost ONGC close to Rs 1,300 crore (Rs 13 billion). The wells are expected to start production by 2006, using fast track smart completion systems.
The local district administration has recently issued a no-objection certificate after a recent public hearing on the environmental aspects of the project paving the way for the formal clearance by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board. The new wells will be drilled in the deep sea.
The wells are expected to produce 9,400 barrels of oil per day, and on an average, 3.4 million barrels a year and gas production of 2.74 million cubic metres per day.
The geographical location of the new oil and gas wells are in close proximity to Odarevu near Kakinada where ONGC has a terminal to receive the oil and gas produced.
From the terminal called the Group Gathering Station, the oil and gas are sent to destinations concerned through pipelines. ONGC is at present producing 4.8 million cubic metres of gas per day and 650 tonnes of crude oil per day in the K-G basin.
It may be recalled that with a view to obtain the environmental clearance for the G-1 and GS-15 Field Development Project, a public hearing meeting was organised by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Kakinada recently.
Y V Jayarama, GM (elect)-head G-1 and G-15, made a detailed presentation on the technicalities of the key development project to the Pollution Control Board and the general public.
A detailed presentation on the environmental aspects, impacts and environmental management due to this project was presented by the National Engineering Environmental Research Institute, Nagpur, that had carried out the environmental impact analysis study for this project.
The members of the panel comprising eminent environmentalists clarified several doubts raised by the members of the public and other representatives concerned in a scientific manner.
The environmental project committee, a national body of ONGC which clears all the construction projects of the corporation, has also cleared the G-1 and GS-15 project.
