The ONGC started digging an oil well in Mumbai High area with help of Russian scientists by a drillship called?
Answers
Answer:
Accessiblity Options
Search
Toggle navigationONGC India Logo
Mumbai High blossomed from depth of 962 meters on Well H-1-1 this day in 1974 – a new era dawned!!
Dated : 20 February 2014 07:35:11 AM
Drill-Ship SagarDrill-Ship Sagar Samrat at work in Bombay High… That day - Feb 19, 1974 - changed the Energy landscape of the country forever
1974, the world economy was struggling to come to terms with oil crises arisen out of oil embargo by middle east oil producing nations . The import price of oil hit all time high and countries like India were worst affected due to lack of significant indigenous hydrocarbon resources.
ONGC, precisely that time, was launching its most ambitious exploration effort in high seas about 90 nautical miles off Mumbai (then Bombay), fingers crossed but spirits high.
Jack up self-propelled, self-elevating drill ship aptly named Sagar Samrat - The Emperor of Seas, was custom built in Japan for shaping India's offshore foray.
Drill-Ship Sagar Samrat at work in Bombay High… That day - Feb 19, 1974 - changed the Energy landscape of the country forever
Samrat had reached Bombay in May 1973 and thereafter drilled a well at Tarapur structure, without success but enormous learning for the engineers.
Sagar Samrat, was next deployed at Well #1 in the Bombay High structure, 160 kilometres from Mumbai. In geological terms, the well was named as H-1-1. Ship reached the location at the end of January, 1973.
On January 31, as its four huge legs started going down simultaneously, there was worry on all faces. It hit solid ground under the sea bed and the ship was jacked up, 50 feet above water at the water depth of 62 meters and the leg penetrations of 13-15 m.
On February 3, 1974, the drill string went down to touch the sea bed. The well was "spudded".
The drillers and Geologists were extra careful while drilling. It was well known that the oil and gas bearing zones normally drill faster. The instructions were clear to stop drilling the moment a 'drilling break'- unusually faster drilling speed- is noticed. The zones containing oil or gas would be 2 to 5 metres thick only and could be missed. Everyone knew the stakes.