Reliance says its main gas fields in KG-D6 block in late life stage

New Delhi: Reliance Industries has said its flagship natural gas fields in the KG-D6 block in the Bay of Bengal are in "a late life stage" with output plummeting to an all-time low.

The company, beginning mid-2020, will bring to production three sets of new discoveries in the block that will reverse the years of decline in production.

Dhirubhai-1 and 3 -- once the country's highest gas producing fields -- are "in a late stage and affected by low pressure and water ingress related challenges," the company said in an investor presentation post announcing June quarter earnings. The fields produced an average of 1.76 million standard cubic metres per day of gas during April-June, the firm said.

RIL has till date made 19 oil and gas discoveries in the Krishna Godavari basin. Of these, MA — the only oil discovery in the block — began production in September 2008. D1 and D3 fields went onstream in April 2009. MA field ceased to produce in September last year and now D1 and D3 are in their last stage.

KG-D6 had hit a peak of 69.43 mmscmd in March 2010 before water and sand ingress shut down wells. This peak output comprised 66.35 mmscmd from D1 and D3, the largest of the gas discoveries on the KG-D6 block, and 3.07 mmscmd from MA field.