Oil Discoveries Boost Onshore Block 1 Prospects in Abu Dhabi

16 Jan 2026 CW Team

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), together with Bharat PetroResources Limited, is jointly advancing oil exploration in Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block 1 following encouraging discoveries in both unconventional and conventional reservoirs. The block is operated through Urja Bharat Pte Limited, a 50:50 special purpose vehicle established by the two Indian companies.

UPBL was awarded the Onshore Block 1 concession in early 2019 under Abu Dhabi’s 2019 bid round. In early 2024, the company achieved its first oil discovery in the unconventional Shilaif play at the XN-76 exploratory well. After successful hydrofracking operations, the well flowed light crude oil to the surface from the Shilaif formation, confirming the presence of unconventional oil resources in the block.

The company has expressed confidence in the results and plans to focus on establishing the economic deliverability of wells during the appraisal phase. The outcome marks an important step towards assessing the commercial viability of unconventional resources within the concession area.

In addition, UPBL recorded another oil discovery during testing at the XN-79 02S exploratory well. This well flowed light crude oil from the Habshan reservoir, representing the first oil find in this reservoir within the concession. The discovery is expected to be appraised further and progressed towards potential development.

Both parent companies view the results as a significant milestone in their international upstream operations. Alongside appraisal of the new discoveries, UPBL is also progressing development of the existing Ruwais field and continuing exploration of additional hydrocarbon prospects across the concession.

Resources

11 Feb 2026

KBL Expands Kaniyur Facility in Centenary Year

Kirloskar Brothers (KBL), a leading player in fluid management solutions, has inaugurated a new factory building at its Kaniyur Manufacturing Facility in Tamil Nadu. The expansion coincides with a milestone year marking 100 years since the company manufactured and installed India’s first centrifugal pump in 1926. The newly commissioned facility is aimed at enhancing productivity and operational efficiency, enabling the company to address rising domestic as well as international demand while upholding stringent quality benchmarks. Sustainability remains a central focus of the expansion. Ar..

Raimondi to Debut TRT 55US at CONEXPO

"Raimondi Group will present the TRT 55US rough terrain crane at CONEXPO 2026, marking the first product debut under its newly established Raimondi North America operations hub.Developed by Terex Rough Terrain, now part of the Raimondi portfolio, the 55-tonne model has been engineered specifically to meet North American operational, regulatory and environmental requirements.Designed for North American ApplicationsThe TRT 55US features a compact transport-friendly design, an additional jib configuration and a redesigned operator environment aimed at improving efficiency and precision. It offers..

CPCL Ranks No.1 in NHAI DPR Ratings

"Chaitanya Projects Consultancy (CPCL) has secured the top position in National Highways Authority of India’s first-ever provisional DPR consultants rating, scoring 80.75 out of 100 and outperforming 55 peer firms.CPCL ranked ahead of Pentacle Consultants (78), L&T Infrastructure Engineering (76), MSV International Technology (74) and Transys Consulting (72). The ranking, released in the fourth week of January 2026, marks NHAI’s first transparent evaluation framework aimed at enhancing DPR quality under Bharatmala and other national highway programmes.The move aligns with the accountab..