Cairn finds more gas, some liquids off Sri Lanka

Nov. 14, 2011
Cairn India Ltd. said its second exploratory well off Sri Lanka is an apparent gas discovery in three zones with some liquid hydrocarbon potential.

Cairn India Ltd. said its second exploratory well off Sri Lanka is an apparent gas discovery in three zones with some liquid hydrocarbon potential.

Cairn Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., a subsidiary of Cairn India Ltd., has notified appropriate government authorities in Sri Lanka of a gas discovery in the CLPL-Barracuda-1G/1 well in the SL 2007-01-001 block in the Mannar basin.

The well went to 4,741 m in 1,509 m of water and intersected 24m of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone in three zones between 4,067 m and 4,206 m. The reservoirs are mainly gas bearing with some liquids potential.

Cairn will evaluate the well results and work with the authorities to determine the discovery’s commercial potential.

CLPL-Barracuda-1G/1 is 38 km west of the CLPL-Dorado-91H/1z discovery well and 68 km from the Sri Lanka coast. An update on the well results will be provided after the end of the program, which is expected to be complete by early next year.

Cairn’s first well, 175 km north-northwest of Colombo, cut 25 m of gas pay with liquids potential in a sandstone at 3,043.8-3,068.7 m (OGJ Online, Oct. 3, 2011).

Cairn Lanka (Pvt.) is the operator and has a 100% participating interest in the block.

About the Author

Alan Petzet | Chief Editor Exploration

Alan Petzet is Chief Editor-Exploration of Oil & Gas Journal in Houston. He is editor of the Weekly E&D Newsletter, emailed to OGJ subscribers, and a regular contributor to the OGJ Online subscriber website.

Petzet joined OGJ in 1981 after 13 years in the Tulsa World business-oil department. He was named OGJ Exploration Editor in 1990. A native of Tulsa, he has a BA in journalism from the University of Tulsa.