The Hindu Business Line : Panna-Mukta fields to resume full production soon

Kolkata, July 30 Panna-Mukta-Tapti joint venture of Reliance, British Gas and Oil and Natural Gas Ltd expects to resume full production from Panna-Mukta fields in the first week of August.

On June 5 a minor explosion damaged the gas dehydrating and other allied facilities on a production platform of Panna-Mukta fields. This had led to a complete shutdown of production for almost a month till partial production was resumed on July 4.

The field is currently producing 18,000-20,000 barrels of oil a day as against 40,000 bpd normal production. Gas output is limited to 2.5 million standard cubic meters a day (mmscmd) as opposed to a production of 5.5 mmscmd in normal times.

“The fabrication and replacement of the damaged facilities is nearing completion. We are hopeful to resume full production of 40,000 bpd oil and 5.5 mmscmd gas from Panna-Mukta in the first week of August,” a source told Business Line.

Production, however, continues from the Tapti field. The joint venture had temporarily increased production from Tapti to compensate a part of the production shortfall from Panna-Mukta.

Overall, the venture is currently producing approximately 13 mmscmd of gas from three fields, roughly 4 mmscmd short of its normal production of 17 mmscmd. Oil production has dropped from 50,000 bpd to approximately 30,000 bpd.

Panna-Mukta-Tapti gas is sold to Reliance, GSPC, Gujarat Gas Company (a city gas distribution of subsidiary of BG) and others through GAIL. Indian Oil is the nominated agency for lifting the oil production.

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