In a major achievement, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) proudly announced the successful commencement of “First Oil” from the deep-water KG-DWN-98/2 Block, located off the coast of the Bay of Bengal. This significant development is poised to elevate ONGC’s total oil and gas production by an impressive 11% and 15%, respectively.
Overcoming a slew of technological and Covid-related challenges, ONGC executed Phase 1 of the project in March 2020, marking the commencement of gas production from the U field of the KG-DWN-98/2 Block in a record time of just 10 months.
The latest achievement comes as ONGC is nearing the completion of Phase 2, which will see the initiation of oil production from the ‘M’ field of KG-DWN-98/2. The entire project has been a testament to ONGC’s resilience and commitment to pushing the boundaries in the oil and gas sector.
KG-DWN-98/2 project faced unique technical hurdles due to the waxy nature of the crude. To address this challenge, ONGC employed innovative Pipe in Pipe technology, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India. Notably, a portion of the subsea hardware involved in the project was sourced internationally to meet specific requirements, while the majority of the fabrication works took place at the Modular Fabrication Facility at Kattupalli. This emphasises ONGC’s dedication to promoting ‘Make in India’ and contributing to a self-reliant energy sector in the country.
The flagship project remains on track, with the final phase scheduled for completion by mid-2024. The peak production of the field is anticipated to reach 45,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and over 10 million standard cubic meters per day (MMSCMD) of gas. This substantial increase in production aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an energy Aatmanirbhar Bharat, reinforcing India’s commitment to self-sufficiency in the energy sector.
