It's third time lucky for ONGC in Tripura block

KOLKATA: ONGC has made a new discovery in Tripura. The ‘find’ is the first of its kind in the natural gas-rich state after a gap of nearly three years. ONGC hit upon the gas reserves at north Agartala,

a nomination block under Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL). Two

wells dug up in the same block had earlier turned dry.

This discovery will add to the tally of ONGC’s gas fields in Tripura and help in meeting additional gas requirements for the company’s proposed Rs 4,000 crore gas-based power project — ONGC Tripura Power Corporation — slated to come up at Palatana, in south Tripura.

This was confirmed by ONGC’s director (exploration) D K Pande. “Our most recent discovery in Tripura is Kunjaban,” he told ET. This is the fourth hydrocarbon strike in Assam & Assam Arrakan Basin in the recent weeks following Kalyanpur, Disangmukh and Panidihing in Assam Shelf.

The last discovery made in Tripura was at Sonamura about three years ago in 2004. The present one at Kunjaban is a new prospect located in north Agartala. Giving out a brief technical detail on the find, ONGC Reports, an online site maintained by the oil & gas major said: “The well, Kunjaban No 2 (KUAC) was spudded on December 19, last year. Gas flowed out from the well at a rate of 2,30,000 cubic metres per day on initial production testing. The producing interval is between 2,682 to 2,687 metres in the Upper Bhuban formation, close to Middle Bhuban boundary. The upper main part of the sand is still to be tested.”