Oil & Natural Gas Corporation digs up gas goldmine Krishna Godavari Basin

U Sudhakar Reddy

Hyderabad: A promising exploration in the Bantumilli south field for hydrocarbons by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in Deyyaladibba, off Krishna Godavari basin, seems to be turning out into a goldmine for the energy major. ONGC has found more gas than what had it initially anticipated. 

 

The gas reserves would be more than 10 billion cubic metres. Top officials in the ONGC have revealed that a new exploratory well called BTS-2 drilled in Bantumilli South field near Deyyaladibba in Bhimavaram of West Godavari district raised hopes as it is likely to turn out as the biggest in discovery in recent years on land of the Krishna Godavari basin. 

 

Bantumilli was originally in Krishna district and the entire range is named after it up to West Godavari district. A source said, “In 2013-14 when Bantumalli South was discovered by digging exploratory well BTS-1, it was estimated it would be 10 billion cubic metres. Due to various technological hitches, drilling beyond 4,200 metres could not be continued further. 

 

With the pressure, it was estimated that the production could be one lakh cubic metres per day from the well. The BTS-1 well was capped and again recently another well BTS-2 was dug up to 4,600 metres. However, ONGC needs technical equipment and manpower to explore the field further as there is a high pressure.

 

Meanwhile, officials said even the Malleswaram field in Krishna will yield oil in large quantities. The Bantumilli South field is spread over 18 square kilometres. ONGC’s asset executive director Mr P.K. Rao said, “Bantumilli South is one of the most promising fields.”