(WO) – Vedanta Oil and Gas Ltd. (VOGL) has partnered with Exceed, a well management and engineering company owned by Kent, to run an integrated exploration and appraisal (E&A) campaign in the KG-DWHP-2017/1 deepwater block in India’s Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin. The block contains four existing gas discoveries and multiple prospects in water depths of about 600 m to 2,000 m (1,970 ft to 6,560 ft).
Exceed will provide subsurface evaluation, well planning, drilling readiness and operational management across the campaign. Vedanta plans a multiwell exploration drilling program starting early next year, following a phased approach that covers project planning, engineering, operational readiness and well execution. As part of the program, the company is evaluating the Vermilion prospect, which it describes as a distinct new play with substantial potential.
“Our entry into deepwater exploration marks a defining milestone in Vedanta Oil & Gas’ growth journey,” said Jim Johnny Gast, interim CEO of Vedanta Oil & Gas. “Through the partnership with Exceed, we are combining global deepwater expertise with our strong execution capabilities to pursue high-impact exploration opportunities.”
Vedanta holds more than 4,600 km² (1,776 mi²) of deepwater acreage in the KG Basin. To prepare for drilling, it has merged and reprocessed 3,800 km² (1,467 mi²) of 3D seismic data across the block and completed a 3D controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey with EMGS to further derisk the prospects. It has also partnered with TechnipFMC on an integrated subsea infrastructure framework.
“By combining integrated planning, technical expertise and global deepwater experience, we aim to deliver a safe, efficient and value-driven exploration campaign that helps unlock the potential of this offshore asset,” said Ian Mills, managing director of Exceed.
The campaign is part of Vedanta’s broader push to expand exploration offshore India. The company recently secured two more offshore blocks in the DSF IV bid round, including the deepwater KG/DWDSF/GD10/2025 block in the KG Basin. That move supports the government’s Samudra Manthan initiative to accelerate deepwater development. Because the round closed before Vedanta Ltd. demerged its oil and gas business, the company will apply to transfer the blocks’ participating interest to Vedanta Oil and Gas.
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