Cairn seeks bids for integrated development of MBA fields

Cairn India Ltd has sought bids from oilfield service providers for integrated development of its main MBA fields in the prolific Rajasthan block as it looks at outside help to raise output.

Mangala, Bhagyam & Aishwariya (MBA) fields, the prime among over two dozen oil and gas discoveries in the Rajasthan block, have seen output stagnating at about 150,000 barrels of oil per day. Cairn, which is now called Vedanta Ltd after its merger with the parent firm, wants service providers to do an integrated development of the field with a view to raising production above the present levels.

It however wants the companies to share the risk and will pay them the cost of their service plus a bonus if the production rises above an agreed base level."Vedanta envisions to ramp-up production from the MBA fields on a fast track basis and sustain thereafter for several years by significantly enhancing the ultimate recovery factors," the company said in the bid documents issued on Monday. It invited oilfield services companies "with end-toend capabilities in domains such as sub-surface (enhanced oil recovery/improved oil recovery techniques), development planning, well construction, surface facilities development, reservoir management and production optimisation techniques" for the bidding".

It added: "Interested parties/consortiums would preferably need to demonstrate strong and integrated capabilities across the entire oil and gas value chain as well as past experience of executing similar large scale developments."