(a) whether the Public Sector Oil Companies have been awarded contracts for oil exploration in the foreign countries;
(b) if so, the details stating inter-alia the foreign countries which have awarded contracts to these companies for oil-exploration during 2004-2005; and
(c) the total share of the work estimated to be awarded to the oil companies?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS AND PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) to (c) : During 2004-05, the public sector oil companies viz. ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) acquired Participating Interests in various Exploration and Production (E&P) properties in Sudan, Australia, Ivory Coast, Qatar, Egypt and Libya. The details are given below :
S.No. Country Name of the Block Public Sector Oil Company Participating Interest
1. Sudan Block 5A OVL 24.125%
2. Sudan Block 5B OVL 23.5%
3. Australia Block WA 306 P OVL 55%
4. Ivory Coast Block CI-112 OVL/OIL 30%/10%
5. Qatar Najwat Najam OVL 100% 6. Egypt North Ramdan Block No. 6 OVL 70%
7 Libya Block 86 IOC/OIL 50%/50%