Mumbai High oilfields revamp to boost oil, gas output: Vijay Goel

The ongoing Mumbai High South Redevelopment Phase III is expected to result in a cumulative increase in production of 7.547 MMT of oil and 3.864 BCM of gas in the next 10 years, Union Minister of State for Statistics & Programme Implementation Vijay Goel said here on Thursday.

Interacting with the media after a review of the progress of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)'s mega-infrastructure projects, he said Phase III was approved in 2014 at a cost of Rs 6,068 crore and is slated for completion by March 2019.

"The project envisages cumulative incremental production of 7.547 million metric tonnes of oil and 3.864 billion cubic metres of gas till 2029-2030. All facilities have been completed and drilling of 57 out of 70 wells has been done with a progress rate of 89.16 per cent," Goel said.

Another project, 'Life extension of 48 well platforms of Mumbai High and Neelam & Heera Fields' approved in December 2015 at a cost of Rs 3,190.69 crore is due for completion by May 2019, he added.

It is being implemented in three packages, the first comprising platform-specific jacket repairs, topside structural strengthening and facility revamp of 20 wellhead platforms, which has progressed at a rate of over 50 per cent.

The second package included revamp of 11 platforms, repair of jacket structural member (above water-level) at 9 platforms, underwater repair of jacket at 15 platforms, removal of Sump Caisson from 40 platforms, removal of Fire Water Pump casing from 29 platforms, the progress of which stands at over 46 percent.

The final package involves complete topside deck replacement of 10 wellhead platforms, which has already been completed, the minister said.

A MahaRatna company, the ONGC owns and operates the Mumbai High oil and gas fields located in the Arabian Sea, around 175 km north-west of Mumbai which became operational in 1974, besides having collaborations with oil and gas companies around the world.

The Mumbai High, sub-divided into North and South fields, holds estimated oil reserves of around 1660 MMTs and produces around 12 MMTs annually.

--IANS

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