 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Technical Contact: Al Silliman
Media Contact: Lisa Mullinax
ONGC to Pioneer Advanced Petroleum Exploration Technology in India
10 October 2008 (New Delhi India) — In a signing ceremony at The Meridian Hotel, Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) became the first company in India to have access to
Gore’s Amplified Geochemical Imaging(sm) technology for oil and gas exploration.
It is a fitting milestone for the company. Earlier this month, ONGC commemorated its
first oil discovery at Lunej in Anand district of Gujarat. The Minister of Petroleum & Natural
Gas Murli Deora unveiled the commemorative plaque at the site of the first discovery 50 years
ago. W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., inventor of Amplified Geochemical Imaging technology,
also celebrates its 50 anniversary this year.
Also instrumental in bringing about this event was The Suvira Group, exclusive
distributors of the Amplified Geochemical Imaging (sm) technology in India. This is the latest
example of their successful partnership with Gore.
According to D. K. Pande, director of exploration, “ONGC has always been in the
forefront of exploration technology. Using Gore’s Amplified Geochemical Imaging technology
will give us a distinct advantage. This technology will enhance the accuracy of our exploration at
a fraction of the cost of seismic surveys, which means that we can locate charged reservoirs more
quickly and reduce the risk of drilling dry wells.”
The Amplified Geochemical Imaging technology is a key component of GORE™
Surveys for Oil & Gas Exploration. A unique benefit of using GORE™ Surveys is the ability to
also measure thermogenic hydrocarbon mass in the critical mid-range hydrocarbon compounds. These “gasoline-range” compounds, C10 though C15 and up, are not easily derived through most
other geochemical methods. Samples are easily gathered by inserting GORE™ Modules (passive
sampling devices) less than one meter below the surface of the survey area.
Using Gore’s Amplified Geochemical Imaging methodology, these samples are evaluated
to locate charged reservoirs and the presence of petroleum system compounds. This unique
methodology uses proven statistical analysis tools to produce a mapped interpretation of the
sample field, identifying the presence of any hydrocarbon charge; the different phases of the
charge, including gas, condensate, and oil; and the boundaries of the charged hydrocarbon
reservoir. With 90 percent accuracy in mapping petroleum versus dry background areas,
Amplified Geochemical Imaging(sm) technology accommodates seasonal, ecological,
topographic, and regional geological conditions that might alter the compositional
transformations of hydrocarbons from place to place.
Two initial projects have been identified for the coming year. The “Patan” oil exploration
survey will comprise 580 samples over 270 km² in the Cambay Basin, Gujarat State. The
objective is to test structural leads in Tertiary clastics. The “Cauvery” oil exploration survey will
comprise 600 samples over a 500 km² area in the Cauvery Basin, Tamil Nadu State, with the
objective of determining the stratigraphic potential of Tertiary and Cretaceous sands.
GORE Surveys have been used effectively for over 15 years in more than 50 countries
around the world, in 100 basins with reservoirs as deep as 25,000 feet and buried below
thousands of feet of volcanic rock or anhydrite They are equally effective in environments ranging from frozen trundra in Russia and Canada to hot, dry deserts in Egypt and Libya and
elsewhere including tropical jungles, temperate forests, grasslands, swamps and offshore in water
depths from shallow transition zones to 2500 meters.
With approximately $2.5 billion in sales and more than 8,000 employees worldwide, W.
L. Gore & Associates (www.gore.com specializes in innovations that improve the quality of
life. In 50 years of product development, Gore has applied its world-renowned expertise to
thousands of products for high-volume, cost-sensitive markets, such as automotive, energy,
electronics, and industrial filtration. The company operates more than 45 facilities worldwide
with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA. For more information about GORE™ Surveys,
visit gore.com/surveys
ONGC (www.ongcindia.com was incorporated in 1993. In 2007, it was ranked as the
number one oil and gas exploration and production company in Asia. The company is involved
in exploring for and exploiting petroleum in 26 sedimentary basins in India. ONGC also owns
and operated more than 11,000 kilometers of pipelines in that country. The government of India
owns a 74% equity stake in the company.
The Suvira Group (www.suvira.com) is one of the leading product management,
marketing and sales organizations in the energy business. Suvira is headquartered in Houston,
Texas and has a world wide network of professionals who ask the right questions of oil
companies and have successfully brought to fruition many projects that employ leading value
technology in challenging markets such as India.
» Return to the main news release page
|
