Sri Lanka has launched a tender to develop a gas block in the Mannar Basin off its northwest coast, vacated when Cairn India pulled out of an exploration project in 2015 as oil prices plunged.
Sri Lanka produces no oil and is dependent on imports, but Cairn India Ltd discovered gas in the area in 2011. The government claims seismic data shows the potential for more than 1 BBL oil under the sea in a 30,000 sq km area of the Mannar Basin.
It invited companies to undertake appraisal and development of gas discoveries and prospects in a 2,924 sq km offshore block in the basin.
London-based WesternGeco plans 2D and 3D spec surveys ahead of the bids off the east coast and in the Mannar Basin, while the government has planned some airborne surveying, PRDS said.
Cairn India, which is now being taken over by Vedanta Ltd, said in 2011 that it struck a 25-metre hydrocarbon column showing primarily gas with other liquid hydrocarbon potential in the CLPL-Dorado-91H/1z wildcat well, drilled at a water depth of 1,354 metres (4,442 feet).