Oilex said a smaller workover rig would be brought onsite as soon as the current drilling rig has demobilised and moved to the Cambay-34Z appraisal well site.

A smaller workover rig will provide a cost effective means of conducting an extended test program at the deeper Basal EP IV Sand and the EP III-IV primary objectives, the company added.

The extended testing program will resume with perforation of an additional 16m interval within the Basal EP IV sand, followed by testing of the EP III and EP IV objectives.

The first drill stem test over the interval 1966-1972m was suspended this week after a series of flow tests at different choke sizes.

According to Oilex, the well continued to flow oil with no formation water at controlled rates between 75-125 barrels of oil per day.

Once the extended test program is completed, the company will decide whether to complete the well as an oil producer.

Meanwhile, Oilex is preparing to spud the Cambay-34Z appraisal well to the southeast of the Cambay-19Z well.

The Oligocene OS II sandstones, Eocene EP III and EP IV siltstones and Basal EP IV sandstones are the main reservoir objectives in the appraisal well, the company said.

These objectives are similar to those of Cambay-19Z in a different geological setting, the company added.

As operator, Oilex holds 30% of the Cambay production-sharing contract, Oilex NL Holdings India has 15%, and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation has 55%.