ONGC to step up exploration work in Tripura

Agartala, March 2: The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has planned to go for massive exploration drive across Tripura to ensure gas supply in the upcoming industrial units in the state.

ONGC officials said production of natural gas in Tripura would be increased to six million cubic metres per day by 2012 and in order to achieve the target, the corporation would drill 13-14 locations each year for the next six years.

The Sonamura GGS would be put on the fast track and commissioned by mid 2010 and upgradation of the Konaban GGS will be done within this period, officials said, adding that as part of extensive drilling drive, two more rigs would be pressed into service by October to achieve the target.

Besides providing natural gas for the 104 MW Monarchak gas-based power project in west Tripura, to be commissioned by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), the ONGC also expressed its keenness to supply gas for setting up a methanol production unit, initiated by a Kolkata based company - Allied Resins and Chemicals.

''Not only the Monarchak project, we have already started supplying natural gas to Rokhia power project that has increased the state's own power generation,'' officials stated.

The ONGC had agreed to supply natural gas to NEEPCO for setting up a 104 MW power project at Monarchak and the process of signing gas-purchasing agreement to ensure fuel supply for the proposed power project was on.

Meanwhile, the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has also stepped up exploration activities in selected locations of Barmura and Atharamura hill ranges but no major breakthrough was achieved so far.

UNI