First oil well in Mannar Basin to be drilled in July

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The first oil well in the Mannar Basin in the North Western Coast will be drilled in July this year.

Petroleum Resource Development Secretariat (PRDS) - Director General Dr. Neil De Silva said that seismic studies have indicated the presence of oil deposits in the Mannar basin.

He said that the special vessel for drilling operations is due to arrive in Sri Lanka by the end of May or June. Drilling for oil will begin in block No 3 in the Mannar Basin and three oil wells will be drilled within six months. CAIRN Lanka, the oil exploration company will use the Colombo harbour as the supporting harbour for the drilling operations, he said.

The Government has signed a contract with CAIRN Lanka, through International biddings for oil exploration in Block No 3 - Mannar basin in October 2008. CAIRN Lanka is a subsidiary of CAIRN India, an international oil and gas exploration company.

Dr. de Silva, an expert who has specialised in petroleum geology and petroleum geo physics for over 30 years in Canada, said that PRDS is planning to call for international bids for the remaining blocks in the Mannar Basin and the blocks in the Cauvery Basin, off the Northern Coast in Sri Lanka.