KG-D6 Gas Output Drops Further: RIL

Reliance Industries has reported a further drop in natural gas production at its eastern offshore KG-D6 block to about 34 million standard cubic meters per day. 

KG-D6 gas output in the week ended March 25 was 34.09 mmscmd, compared with 34.62 mmscmd in the beginning of the month, according to a status report filed by the company with the oil ministry. 

Production from Dhirubhai-1 and Dhirubhai-3, the largest among the 19 oil and gas finds made by RIL in the block, slipped to 27.64 mmscmd during Marh 19-25. The twin fields had produced 28.16 mmscmd in the week ended March 4. Together with 6.45 mmscmd output from the MA oilfield in the same block, KGD6 produced 34.09 mmsmcd in week ending March 25. 

The KG-D6 production is lower than 61.5 mmscmd rate achieved in March, 2010, as a drop in pressure in the wells and increased water ingress has led to a lower per-well gas output. 

The report said that of the 18 wells drilled, completed and put on production in the D1 and D3 fields, six wells had to be shut or closed due to high water cut/sanding issues. 

The output from KG-D6 is short of the 70.39 mmscmd-level (61.88 mmscmd from D1 and D3 and 8.5 mmscmd from the MA field) envisaged by now as per the field development plan approved in 2006.