RIL gets Environment Ministry nod to drill 8 wells in Tamil Nadu

Company to invest Rs 800 crore to drill these wells in search of hydrocarbons

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has got approval from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) to drill eight additional exploratory wells in Tamil Nadu. The company plans to invest around Rs 800 crore to drill these new wells.

An Order, signed by Lalit Bokolia, additional director, MoEF, on June 30 , 2016 stated that the Ministry has given environmental clearance to the project under the provisions. The Ministry also listed several conditions in the Order.

The proposal was considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee (industry) in its meetings in February 2014 and April 2016. Project proponent and the EIA consultant Bhagavati Anna Labs Ltd have presented the EIA/ EMp report as per the TOR.

EAC has found the report and additional information to be satisfactory and in full consonance with the presented TORs. The Committee recommended the proposal for environment clearance.

RIL has been awarded exploratory rights for hydrocarbons prospecting in the offshore block under the New Exploration Licensing Policy III (NELP III).

The Block is located in the Bay of Bengal off the east coast of India between Puducherry and Karaikal off Tamil Nadu.

It is a deep water block with the water depth varying between 400 and 3500 m. The block cover an area of around 10655 sq.km with its nearest boundary about 22 kms from the shore.

As on date RIL drilled nine wells and discovered the presence of hydrocarbons in three wells. Seismic data and the drilling campaign in the lock revealed the presence of hydrocarbons in the block area.

Hence, RIL is planning to carry-out the additional eight exploratory/ appraisal well drilling to establish the reservoir capacity and commercial viability of hydrocarbons in this block area.

Total cost of the project is around Rs 800 crore.