602 tonnes per day of crude oil from ONGC in KG Basin: Deora

New Delhi, Mar 4 (UNI) The Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora today said in 2006-07, crude oil production by ONGC in onland areas of KG basin was about 602 tonnes per day and 4 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) of natural gas.

In July 2008, additional natural gas of 40 MMSCMD from KG deep-water areas is likely to be produced by Reliance Industries Limited and NIKO Resources Limited Joint Venture.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) started commercial oil and gas production in October 1998 in Krishna Godavari (KG) basin.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Mr Deora said that in Rajasthan, ONGC and Oil India Limited are producing natural gas at the rate of 0.75 MMSCMD. In second quarter of 2009, crude oil peak production of 6 million metric tones per annum is likely to be produced by Cairn Energy India Pty. Ltd. He added that 12 MMSCMD of natural gas is produced from Tapti field by British Gas Exploration Production India Limited (BGEPIL).

The Minister further said that in KG basin, (as on April 1, 2007) initially in place oil and gas reserves of 970.52 million metric tones of oil equivalent (MMTOE) have been established. In Rajasthan, initially in place oil and gas reserves of 330.36 MMTOE have been established. In Tapti field, initially in place oil and gas reserves of 114.96 MMTOE have been established.

Government of India approved the New Exploration&Licensing Policy (NELP) in 1997 and it became effective in February, 1999.

Since then licenses for exploration are being awarded only through a competitive bidding system and National Oil Companies (NOCs) are required to compete on an equal footing with Indian and foreign companies to secure Petroleum Exploration Licences(PELs).

Six rounds of bids have so far been concluded under NELP, in which production sharing contracts for 162 exploration blocks have been signed. Under NELP, 56 oil and gas discoveries in 17 blocks have already been made in Cambay onland, North East Coast and Krishna-Godavari deep water areas, for which, development plans by the operators are in progress.

With exploration and development efforts made under NELP, Natural Gas production in the country is likely to be doubled by end of 11th Five Year Plan from the present level of gas production of about 90 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD).

Under seventh round of NELP which was launched on December 13, 2007, government is offering 57 exploration blocks. The offered blocks include 19 deep water blocks, 9 shallow water blocks and 29 onland blocks.

UNI RT BJR BD1625