The Hindu Business Line : Panna-Mukta-Tapti may raise gas production by Sept 1

Gas plans
The additional production will come through fresh capacity addition of Tapti oilfield.
The additional production will not be sold as a consortium.
PMT partners ONGC, BG and Reliance have already decided to separately market their shares of gas.

Kolkata June 26 Panna-Mukta-Tapti joint venture expects to enhance production of natural gas by 5-5.5 million standard cubic metre per day (mmscmd) by September 1, 2007.

The additional production will come through fresh capacity addition of Tapti oilfield. Total natural gas production of PMT will reach 17 mmscmd.

The additional production will cater to the demand of Gujarat-based Torrent Power, Rajasthan Vidyut Unnyan Nigam Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd, Gujarat Gas Company Ltd and others.

Pipeline Network

Sources in PMT said that the $520-million capacity addition programme at Tapti oilfield — located roughly 60 km from the Maharashtra-Gujarat coast line — is progressing as per schedule and is expected to be completed by September 1.

"The physical part of the project including commissioning of a new process platform and laying the pipeline network is already over," a source said. The residual job, which includes drilling of production wells, would be over during the monsoon. Interestingly, in a major shift from its tradition, the additional production will not be sold as a consortium. PMT partners ONGC, British Gas and Reliance have already decided to separately market their shares of gas.

Internal Consumption

Accordingly, ONGC committed its share of approximately 2.4 mmscmd to Gujarat based Torrent Power (0.9 mmscmd) and Rajasthan Vidyut Unnyan Nigam Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (1.5 mmscmd).

The supplies will meet a part of the requirement for the proposed 1,100 MW capacity at Surat by Torrent Power Generation Ltd.

On the other hand, Rajasthan Vidyut Unnyan Nigam Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd will use the supplies for generation of 330 MW gas based power at Dholpur. This is the first time Rajasthan will be supplied natural gas.

BG has committed its share of 1.8 mmscmd to its Gujarat based marketing and distribution subsidiary Gujarat Gas Company Ltd.

According to sources, RIL may use its share of 1.8 mmscmd partly for internal consumption.

ONGC holds 40 per cent interest in the joint venture followed by 30 per cent each by RIL and BG.

The joint venture is operated jointly by the three partners.

While ONGC takes care of project implementation, BG is responsible for reservoir management and other such technical operations. The commercial decisions are spearheaded by RIL.