ONGC starts Mumbai High South work

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the country's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, on Saturday kicked-off the second redevelopment phase of Mumbai High South (MHS) in western offshore.

The second phase of redevelopment of MHS will involve an investment of Rs 6,340 crore and production capacity will go up from 1,50,000 bopd (barrel oil per day) to 1,80,000 bopd. Its oil recovery factor will increase from the present 31 per cent to 35 per cent by 2030.

The second phase will have a timeline of five years (2007-2012). ONGC will drill 86 wells and 52 sidetrack wells from five platforms during the period.

"During this period, with shutdowns for maintenance and operation losses, incremental oil and gas production works out to be 20.7 mmt and 3.32 bcm, respectively," said R S Sharma, chairman and managing director, ONGC.

Mumbai High, spread over around 1,500 sq km, is divided into two blocks "� Mumbai High North and Mumbai High South. Both the fields together produce 2,52,000 bopd.

In May 2007, ONGC completed the Rs 6,500-crore first phase of redevelopment of Mumbai High South.

The project included installation of 10 new well platforms, laying of new pipelines and upgrading of existing facilities, besides drilling 140 new wells.

The oil recovery factor post phase one development went up from 28 per cent to 31 per cent.

Mumbai High was put on production in May 1976. Since then, it has undergone several rounds of development during the last 30 years. The field reached a production level of around 400,000 bopd during 1984-85 and was maintained for about six years.

The field has been experiencing decline in oil production from 1990 due to increase in field gas oil ratio and water cut. ONGC is taking numerous steps to arrest the decline of oil production by undertaking various phases of development.