(a) whether Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India Limited has undertaken a survey in Orissa to find out new crude oil reserves during 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the quantity of oil reserves that has so far been found there?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) to (c): Oil India Ltd.(OIL) and Oil Natural and Gas Corporation Ltd.(ONGC) have not undertaken survey for exploration of hydrocarbons in the State of Orissa during the period 1998-99 and 1999-2000. However, under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), one block in Mahanadi deepwater basin has been awarded to the ONGC. One block in the basin in shallow water off coast of Orissa has also been awarded to the consortium of ONGC and Gas Authority of India Limited. As per terms of the contract, following exploration work is to be carried out by ONGC, with and without the consortium partner, in these blocks in phase I, scheduled to start during 2000-01:
Gravity-Magnetic Survey: 20,000 Stations.
2D seismic survey: 2,900 Line Kilometres