Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, has inaugurated the seismic survey campaign of Oil India Limited (OIL), India’s second largest national exploration & production company at Kakatpur in Puri District, Odisha in the Mahanadi Basin (Onland).

 

OIL plans to acquire, process and interpret 1,502 LKM of 2D seismic data and 1,670 square Km of 3D seismic data in the five blocks. Interpretation of the data is envisaged to lead to an extensive exploratory drilling campaign, in quest of establishing hydrocarbon reserves in line with the vision of Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Bharat. 

 

The total envisaged expenditure on the entire exploration campaign in the five blocks in Mahanadi Basin (Onshore) is Rs. 1,248 crore of which Rs. 220 crore is for seismic survey. The blocks are spread in eleven districts of Odisha namely Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsingpur, Kendrapara, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshore, Maurbhanj and Keonjhar.

 

The company has been actively participating in the OALP rounds in an endeavor to intensify exploration. OIL has been awarded a total of 25 blocks making it the second largest winner of exploration blocks under OALP. A total of 8,215 LKM 2D and 5,884 square Km. 3D seismic survey and 73 exploratory wells are planned in these 25 blocks. The envisaged investment is to the tune of Rs. 5,400 crore over the next three to four years. Apart from consolidating its position in northeast and Rajasthan, OIL has made conscious efforts to carry out exploration in Category II & III sedimentary basins in line with Government of India’s thrust for exploration.