(a) whether the Government have permitted private companies to explore the eastern sea-bed for oil and gas reserves;
(b) if so, whether such explorations have taken place and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether in view of huge reserves of oil and gas in eastern sea-bed, the Government propose to set up refineries on the Orissa coast; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) to (d) : The Government has so far awarded 34 exploration blocks in the East Coast offshore area since 1991. Of these 21 blocks have been awarded to private/joint ventures (JVs) and 13 blocks to National Oil Companies (NOCs). In addition, exploration work has also been carried out in one discovered field Ravva awarded to JV. Details of exploration activities carried out by the private/JV companies in their blocks and fields are as under:-
2 D seismic - 12348 Line Kilometres 3 D Seismic - 5141 Square Kilometres No. of exploratory wells drilled - 24
These efforts have resulted in oil and gas discoveries in the area.