ONGC expects to start production from the North Tapti marginal gas field this month, subject to approval from the upstream regulator, according to sources.

Taken up for development at an estimated cost of Rs 580 crore exactly two years ago, gas production from the field is estimated at a maximum of 1.8 million metric standard cubic metre a day (mmscmd).

Company sources told Business Line that the public sector oil and gas major was in the final stages of linking the two production platforms with the gas processing centre operated by Cairn India-led CB/OS-2 joint venture, at Hazira.

“We are hooking up North Tapti field. Gas will flow from the field in October, subject to requisite approval from the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons,” a source said. It is learnt that the Union Government has yet to allot the gas to prospective buyers.

Joint development

Initially the field was proposed to be developed jointly with the Ambe marginal gas field of the Cairn India operated CB/OS-2 joint venture to optimize investment in pipeline and processing infrastructure. The total estimated production (from North Tapti and Ambe) of over 3 mmscmd was slated to be processed at Cairn's existing operations at Hazira.

Though the CB/OS-2 venture later dropped the Ambe development plan, ONGC went ahead with the North Tapti project.

Marginal fields

Incidentally, this is the second marginal field after G1-GS15 to be brought under production by ONGC this year. Located on the East Coast, G1-GS15 is expected to produce a maximum of 2.7 mmscmd of natural gas.

This apart, ONGC is in various stages of developing a number of marginal gas fields including C-26, 36, 37, 39 and others on the West Coast.

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