(a) whether researches were made towards availability of improved quality of oil and natural gas at thirteen places in the country including West Bengal by ONGC;
(b) if so, whether digging in North and South 24 Parganas of West Bengal has given credible evidence of availability of oil and natural gas; and
(c): if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR )
(a): Out of 26 sedimentary basins in india, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has explored and tested 19 basins, including those in the State of West Bengal, for their hydrocarbon potential by seismic survey and/or drilling. ONGC has established commercial production in 7 basins till date. At present, ONGC is engaged in active hydrocarbon exploration in 16 basins.
(b): ONGC has drilled seven exploratory wells in South 24 Parganas area of West Bengal. In addition, one exploratory well was drilled by Indo Stanvac Petroleum Project (ISPP) in this area. No exploratory well was drilled by ONGC in North 24 Parganas area.
(c): There is no indication of hydrocarbons in the wells drilled by ONGC except some minor indication of gas with some oil and water on testing the well, Golf Green-1. The well drilled by ISPP also proved to be dry.