ONGC's first oil flows from KG-DWN-98/2 Block
This marks a pivotal moment in the co's trajectory, as the 98/2 project could bolster ONGC’s overall oil and gas production by an impressive 11% and 15%
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Mumbai: ONGC, India's leading oil and gas exploration company, has proudly announced the successful initiation of “First Oil” from the deep-water KG-DWN-98/2 Block, strategically located off the Bay of Bengal coast. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in the company's trajectory, as the 98/2 project is anticipated to bolster ONGC’s overall Oil and Gas production by an impressive 11 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.
Despite grappling with a series of technological hurdles compounded by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ONGC exhibited remarkable resilience, efficiently executing Phase 1 of the project in March 2020. This swift execution resulted in the timely commencement of gas production from the U field of the KG-DWN-98/2 Block, accomplished within a record-setting period of merely 10 months.
The recent inauguration of First Oil on 7 January 2024 signifies ONGC's advancing strides towards the culmination of Phase 2, which is poised to witness the commencement of oil production from the ‘M’ field of KG-DWN-98/2.
One of the distinctive technical challenges encountered during the development of this field was the waxy nature of the crude oil. In response, ONGC innovatively adopted the Pipe in Pipe technology, marking a pioneering initiative within India. While sourcing some specialized subsea hardware internationally to meet specific project requirements, the majority of fabrication work was conducted at the Modular Fabrication Facility in Kattupalli. This underscores ONGC's steadfast commitment to fostering indigenous production capabilities, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative and reinforcing India's quest for self-reliance in the energy sector.
The flagship project remains on course for its final phase, with plans to activate the remaining oil and gas fields of the block by mid-2024. Anticipated to reach a peak production capacity of 45,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) alongside over 10 MMSCMD of gas, this venture is poised to significantly contribute to the vision of an energy Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), as envisioned by the Prime Minister
