Sri Lanka to open Block M2

Sri Lanka’s government is offering a tender for Block M2 later this year, giving companies opportunities to undertake appraisal and development of gas discoveries and prospects, according to the country’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development.

The acreage consists of 2924sq km, offshore the Mannar Basin, which includes the Barracuda and Dorado gas-condensate discoveries. The area once belonged to Cairn Energy, known as the company’s SL 2007-01-001 Block.

The block will be offered for licensing this year, and a data package will be available containing well data and some 2600 sq km of 3D seismic coverage, the Ministry said.

The remainder of Sri Lankan acreage will be released in a bid round in Q4 17.

WesternGeco is planning 2D and 3D spec seismic ahead of this off the East coast and in the Mannar Basin. Some airborne FTG/mag surveying is also planned.

Map of Block M2, from Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development.