Reliance makes 13th strike in D6 block

Reliance Industries has made its 13th consecutive gas discovery in the D6 deep-water block off the Andhra Pradesh coast.

The G-1 exploration well flow tested on two intervals at rates close to 100 million cubic feet per day, Reliance Industries' partner Niko Resources said today.

One of the zone testing gas is at a stratigraphic interval where gas has not yet been encountered. Similar log response was seen in the M-1 well (the 11th discovery) drilled previously, but was not tested due to hole conditions. This additional interval will add to the prospects of future drilling planned in the area of the newly acquired 3D seismic data.

Reliance Industries holds 90% interest in block D6 while Canada's Niko has the remaining 10%. Till date, 14.5 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves have been established in the block, and Reliance plans to produce between 40 and 60 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from 2007-08.

All drilling till date in D6 has occurred in an 1800 square-kilometre area covering 20% of the 1.9 million acre block.

Processing and interpretation of the newly-acquired 3D seismic data totalling 3165 square kilometres is under way with additional exploratory drilling planned for 2005, Niko said.

"Newly acquired 3D seismic data totalling 3,165 square kilometres conducted over an area extending east and south of the original seismic area was integrated with the original seismic data. Processing and interpretation of this new seismic is underway with additional exploratory drilling to commence in 2005," it added.