Reliance strikes second gas discovery in Krishna Basin

Mumbai, Apr 1 (UNI) Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) today announced a second gas discovery in the Deepwater Exploration Block in Krishna Basin, located 45 km away from the coast.

The deepwater block KG-DWN-2003/1 of National Exploration Licencing Policy-V covers an area of 3,288 sq Km. The discovery named ''Dhirubhai 41'' has been notified to the Government of India and the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, RIL said in a release here.

RIL holds 90 per cent participating interest (PI) while Hardy Exploration and Production India Inc holds the balance of PI in the block.

The well KGVD3-B1 was drilled at a water depth of 711 m, to a total depth of 2,730 m, with the objective of exploring high amplitude geobodies of Pliestocene deep water fan complex and unconformity related structural traps at Miocene level. Excellent qualities of reservoirs were encountered with gross hydrocarbon columns of around 111 m.

The potential commercial interest of the discovery is being ascertained through more data gathering and analysis.

In February, RIL made first gas discovery in the same block and the discovery was named ''Dhirubhai 39''.

About 70 per cent of this block is covered by 3D Seismic survey and further prospect analysis was underway, the release added.

This discovery has established a petroleum system in the block, the extent of which is being analysed.

In the last quarter of 2007-08, RIL has made four discoveries, two in Krishna Basin deep waters, one in shallow waters of Krishna Basin and one in Mahanadi Basin.

UNI VK NM RL HS1819