Question : MoU signed by ONGC

(a) whether the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh Government for investing US$ 5.07 billion in developing/ discovery of oil and gas fields by 2019-20 and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the said investment has helped in increasing the production of oil and gas discoveries in the Bay of Bengal block KG-DWN-98/2 (KG D5) and if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the first gas production is likely to be started and the route through which the gas is proposed to be brought to Andhra Pradesh;
(c) the details of the unexplored hydrocarbon blocks in the country at present; and
(d) whether the Open Acreage Licensing Policy contains necessary safety provisions so as not to allow damages to environment or natural habitat while undertaking exploration and extraction exercises and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE(INDEPNDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) & (b) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited has signed an MoU with Andhra Pradesh Government with a plan to invest about Rs.10000/- Crores for E&P activities in Onland blocks and about Rs.68000/- Crores in Offshore Assets in KG Basin including the block KG-DWN-98/2 in next five years. The current production from ONGC’s onshore & offshore fields is 4.5 MMSCMD of gas and 6,000 barrels/day of oil. As a result of above investment production from KG Basin is estimated to increase to 38 MMSCMD of gas and 80,000 barrels/day of oil in next five years. The first gas from KG-DWN-98/2 cluster-II project is expected by June 2019 and first oil by March 2020.
The gas to be produced from offshore fields is planned to be transported to Odalarevu Onland terminal, East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh and from there will be evacuated through pipelines.
(c) The details of the unexplored hydrocarbon blocks in the country are at Annexure.
(d) Open Acreage Licensing Programme ( OALP) is part of new Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy ( HELP). To start any Exploration & Production activity in the area awarded under HELP the operator will have to obtain the clearances required in accordance with applicable Acts, Rules and Regulations, notifications and orders issued thereunder including those issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Government of India with due regard to concerns with respect to protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources.