Oil India (OIL) has kick started its offshore operations in Andaman Shallow Waters with deployment of a state-of-the-art multi-purpose seismic data acquisition vessel SW Vespucci.
The vessel has been deployed for acquisition of 8,400 LK of 2D seismic data in its OALP-III blocks AN-OSHP-20 18/ 1 & AN-OSHP-20 18/2.
The exploration efforts in Andaman offshore are being resumed after a long time. On the onshore front, OIL was the first company to commence 2D and 3D seismic data acquisition in any onshore OALP block in the country and also the first company to complete the committed seismic work programme in an onshore OALP block.
The company has drawn up plans to intensify its exploration efforts in the country and increase exploration CAPEX in coming years.
The data acquisition in Mahanadi on-land blocks in the state of Odisha will begin shortly and exploration drilling campaign in its OALP blocks will commence during 2021-22.
OIL plans to carry out about 15,000 LKM of 2D API, 4,000 sq km of 3D API and drill 66 wells in OALP blocks in the next three-four years.
OIL was awarded 21 blocks spread over Assam and Assam Arakan basin, Rajasthan, Mahanadi onland, Andaman and Kerala-Konkan offshore basins.Â
The company is expecting two more blocks under OALP V in the state of Assam which will take the acreage position of OIL in the North-East to over 20,000 sq km.
Apart from consolidating its position in the North-East and Rajasthan, OIL has made conscious efforts to carry out exploration in Category-II & -III sedimentary basins in line with the government of India’s thrust for exploration.