Question : EXPLORATION OF HYDROCARBONS

(a) whether the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has discovered hydrocarbons in many notified blocks in Gujarat;

(b) if so, the names of those notified blocks and the areas in which these are located;

(c) the names of companies to which gas has been given on the basis of APM from these new notified blocks alongwith the quantity of gas given to these companies;

(d) whether the Government is aware that some of these Companies sell allocated gas in black market;and

(e) if so, the action taken against these companies?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) and (b): As on 01.08.2010, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has made 122 discoveries in the nomination blocks and 4 discoveries in the NELP blocks in the State of Gujarat. Details of these discoveries are given as Annexure.

(c) to (e): Gas produced by National Oil Companies, viz. ONGC and OIL, from new fields in the nomination blocks is not sold at Administrative Price Mechanism (APM) rate.