Question : ONGC EXPLORATION IN NORTH EASTERN REGION



(a) whether ONGC has undertaken large scale explorations for oil and gas in the North Eastern Region this year; and

(b) if so, the steps taken so far in this direction in different areas of the region and results achieved?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS(SMT. SUMITRA MAHAJAN)

(a) & (b): Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) is pursuing exploration for hydrocarbons in the North Eastern Region for the last four decades. For this year, 2003-04, ONGC has planned to acquire 925 Ground Line Kilometers(GLK) of 2-Dimensional (2D) seismic and 260 Square Kilometers(Sq. Km) of 3-Dimensional (3D) seismic as also on drilling of 32 exploratory wells in the North Eastern Region.

During the first half of the current year, i.e. April to September, 2003, 96 GLK of 2D seismic and 138 Sq. Km. of 3D seismic have been acquired in the North Eastern Region. During this period, ONGC has also drilled 8 exploratory wells. The state-wise details of exploratory efforts made by ONGC during the year 2003-04 are as under:

State	2D	3D	Exploratory wells
(GLK) (Sq.Km) drilled

Assam 73 138 5 Tripura 23 - 3


Out of the eight wells drilled above, three wells have proved to be hydrocarbon bearing.