With bureaucratic hurdles delaying its plans to boost output from flagging KG-D6 block, UK's BP plc CEO Bob Dudley has written to Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy seeking immediate approvals so as that the block's potential can be fully exploited.
BP, which recently bought 30 per cent stake in KG-D6 and 20 other blocks of Reliance Industries for $7.2 billion, is keen to undertake sea-bed surveys this winter season -- the only four months weather window available in Bay of Bengal for such jobs, to acess potential of satellite discoveries in the block and draw blue-print of their development.
Following up his meeting with Reddy on the sidelines of the World Petroleum Congress in Doha last month, Dudley said one full year may be lost if approvals do not come in time.
"As I said during our meeting in Doha, I am deeply concerned that unless we get approvals and permits to begin these sea-bed surveys this December, we will lose a year in our goal of bringing materially new amounts of gas to the Indian market," he wrote to Reddy last month.
RIL's $1.529 billion plan to develop four satellite fields surrounding the currently producing D1 & D3 fields in KG-D6 block is awaiting oil ministry nod. The survey is part of the development plan.
The satellite fields are key to boosting output from the block which has fallen over 35 per cent to around 39 million cubic meters per day over past one-and-half-years.
"Upon my return, I had my team re-visit the PSC and they advise me that it is their firm view that these sea-bed survey activities are covered by Article 10.7 of the KG-D6