18th February, 2003
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas  


NEW EXPLORATION BY ONGC


RAJYA SABHA

Subsequent to the announcement of the Krishna Godavari basin gas finds by the consortium of Reliance Industries Limited and Niko Resources Limited in October 2002, ONGC has found leads at 4 new locations. Of these two leads, viz. Laiplinggaon in the Upper Assam Basin and Kavitam in the Krishna Godavari basin, are onland. The other two leads, viz. B-22-5 in Mumbai offshore and GS-KW in the Krishna Godavari basin, are offshore.

ONGC had been awarded 24 exploration blocks by itself or in consortium with other Oil PSUs under the first and second round of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP). Of these 4 are onland, 11 are shallow offshore and 9 are deep water offshore blocks. Exploration activities have commenced in all these blocks in accordance with the committed work programme as per the respective Production Sharing Contracts.

After the announcement of gas finds by the consortium of Reliance Industries Limited and Niko Resources Limited, in October 2002, ONGC has been awarded 13 exploration blocks i.e. 8 onland, 3 shallow offshore and 2 deepwater offshore blocks, under the third round of NELP, either by itself or in consortium partnership with other Oil PSUs. Production Sharing Contracts for these blocks have recently been signed on 4th February, 2003.

The above information was given by the Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Ram Naik, today in the Rajya Sabha to a question.