Adani Welspun Exploration (AWEL), a joint venture between the Adani Group and Welspun Enterprises, has made its its first-ever gas discovery off the coast of Mumbai, Adani Enterprises said on March 15.  

AWEL operates the NELP-VII MB-OSN-2005/2 block with a 100% interest. The 714.6-km² block is situated in the gas-prone Tapti-Daman sector of the Mumbai offshore basin. 

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The drilling of the well has confirmed the presence of substantial quantities of gas and condensate in the block, AWEL said. Out of the three potential zones identified during drilling, two objects tested by drill stem testing (DST) flowed substantial gas and condensate to the surface.  

Object-I, a clean sandstone reservoir, flowed 9.7mn ft³/day of gas along with 378 barrels/day of condensate while Object-II, another thick clean sandstone reservoir, flowed 9.1mn ft³/day of gas along with 443 barrels/day of condensate. 

The company said that the pay zones and flow rates encountered had exceeded its initial estimates. “With the information gleaned from adjoining fields/areas, this discovery is of substantial significance for both the company and the nation,” it said. 

AWEL was awarded the block under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) VII bid round. Adani Group holds 65% in AWEL through Adani Enterprises, while Welspun Group holds 35% through Welspun Natural Resources, a wholly owned subsidiary of Welspun Enterprise. 

AWEL also operates the adjacent Discovered Small Fields B-9 Cluster. "The proximity of these two prospective blocks will enable AWEL to synergise and optimise development of both the blocks,” AWEL managing director Sandeep Garg said.