Heera & Neelam

Location

The Heera & Neelam Oil and Gas Block is situated offshore, approximately 45 kilometers southwest of Mumbai, in the Mumbai Offshore region. The exact coordinates are around 18.6546, 72.8248 (WGS 84).

Project Details

Discovery and Operation

The Heera & Neelam field was discovered in 1977. It is currently an operating block, with ONGC as the sole operator and owner.

Production

As of 2017, the block produced 1054.83 million cubic meters of gas and 17.74 million barrels of oil per year.

• The Neelam field, in particular, is expected to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day after full development.

Infrastructure and Development

• The development plan for the Neelam field involves the installation of 11 wellhead platforms, an oil and gas processing platform complex, a water injection platform, and a gas lift facility. Additionally, about 90 wells are planned to be drilled, and separate subsea pipelines for liquids, water, and gas will be laid.
• In a more recent development, ONGC awarded a contract for the Neelam re-development and B173AC project, which includes one new process platform, three new wellhead platforms, and modifications to existing platforms. This project aims to extend the life of the Neelam field and is expected to be completed by April 2019.

Production Targets

• The re-development project targets cumulative production of 2.76 million metric tons of crude oil and 4.786 billion cubic meters of gas through 2034-35.

Field Characteristics

Geology and Wells

• The Neelam field covers the overlapping B-131 and B-132 structures. Initially, it produced from four wells through temporary facilities. The field involves drilling and production from multiple wells, with ongoing efforts to enhance production through re-entry and completion of existing wells and drilling new development wells.

Processing and Transportation

• The produced oil and gas are processed and transported through subsea pipelines. For example, the re-development project includes laying new subsea pipelines to connect the production to existing trunk pipelines and facilities.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Investment and Costs

• The full development plan for the Neelam field was approved with a budget of $1.335 billion.
• The re-development and B173AC project was awarded a $245-million EPCIC contract.

Role in ONGC's Strategy

• The Heera & Neelam project is crucial for ONGC's production goals. It is part of ONGC's broader strategy to maintain and enhance production from major fields, including investments in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) techniques.

Environmental and Operational Considerations

Environmental Impact

• The project area does not have any ecologically sensitive areas such as coral reefs, marine water parks, or sanctuaries within a 10 km radius.

Operational Facilities

• The project utilizes Mobile Offshore Production Units (MOPU) for production, storage, and offloading. The accumulated oil and gas are transported to other facilities like Bombay High through subsea pipelines.

In summary, the Heera & Neelam Oil and Gas Block is a vital component of India's oil and gas production, managed by ONGC with significant investments in infrastructure and technology to ensure sustained and enhanced production.