Greka Drilling Ltd (www.grekadrilling.com) has commenced preparations to drill the third well for Essar Oil Ltd in the Raniganj block, West Bengal, India, under a contract signed in February with the Asian country’s coal bed methane (CBM) producer. Greka Drilling has successfully drilled two directional wells for Essar under the contract. The first well was begun on 8 May, while the second well was completed on 5 June. The firm is preparing to drill the third well shortly. Under the one-year contract, Greka Drilling is remunerated on a day-rate basis for drilling vertical and directional wells.

CEO Randeep S Grewal said: “We are delighted that the drilling campaign for Essar has started so well, and we look
forward to the mobilisation of more rigs in West Bengal over the course of the year. There are a number of CBM resource holders in India that are now planning extended drilling campaigns, and Greka Drilling will continue to be at the forefront of these developments.”