GAIL starts drilling second exploratory well in Gujarat block

State gas utility GAIL India has started drilling a second exploratory well in a Gujarat oil and gas block. The well was spud in Nabhoi village in Anand district of Gujarat on May 27, the company said in a statement. 

GAIL had spud the first well on the NELP-IX Block CB-ONN-2010/11 in Cambay Basin on March 27. "Drilling to target depth of 2,200 meters of this well is scheduled to be completed in 30 to 35 days," it said. GAIL is the operator of the block with 25 per cent stake.

Other partners are Bharat Petro Resources Ltd (BPRL), Engineers India (EIL), Monnet Ispat Energy (MIEL) and Bharat Forge Infrastructure. "The consortium will drill eight exploratory wells in the initial exploration phase as per minimum work commitment of Production Sharing Contract (PSC)," the statement added.