The company today said the well had reached a total depth of 1751.5m and was now undergoing wireline logging before being cased.

“On completion of these operations, the well will be suspended for testing of potential oil and gas-bearing horizons and the rig will be released to drill the second appraisal/development well, Cambay-71,” Oilex said.

The testing program on Cambay-72 will be undertaken using a workover rig during October, it said.

The wells are part of the company’s maiden drilling program in the onshore Cambay field, targeting a potential oil leg on the Western High Trend.

In June, Oilex announced it was taking over as operator of the Cambay field, in which it has a 45% stake, 15% of which was acquired from Niko Resources and remains subject to approval by the Indian Government. Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) holds the remaining 55% interest in the Cambay production-sharing contract.

The Cambay field is located in a prolific onshore petroleum province in Gujarat at the northern end of the Bay of Cambay, close to existing pipelines and industrial infrastructure in India’s main heavy industrial corridor.

Also subject to government approval is Oilex’s 40% interest in the Bhandut field, located south of Cambay near the industrial centre of Hazira, and the Sabarmati field, further to the north near Ahmedabad, with GSPC holding the remaining stake.