India’s Hydrocarbon Outlook 2024 14 A Report on Exploration & Production Activities Priority was given to regions like the Himalayan foothills and adjoining Ganga plains, Gujarat’s alluvial tracts, Upper Assam, and Bengal’s basins. While exploratory drilling in the Himalayan foothills during 1957 proved unsuccessful, ONGC achieved a significant breakthrough within a year of its formation by discovering oil at Cambay. Subsequent years witnessed a string of discoveries under ONGC’s leadership: Ankleshwar (1960) and Kalol (1961) in Gujarat, Lakwa (1964) and Geleki (1968) in Assam, and a gas discovery (Manhera Tibba) in Rajasthan (1969). Oil India Limited: A Strategic Partnership (1959) In February 1959, Oil India Limited (OIL) was incorporated as a rupee company to expedite exploration and development activities in Assam’s Naharkatiya and Moran fields. Established to take over BOC’s Assam operations, OIL was initially a joint venture with a two-thirds ownership by AOC/BOC and one-third by the Government of India. This partnership evolved into an equal partnership by 1961, marking a significant step towards greater Indian control over its oil resources. Consolidation and Expanding Horizons (1960s-Onwards) India’s quest for offshore oil and gas began in 1962 with a pioneering effort by ONGC. Their initial foray involved an experimental seismic survey in the Gulf of Cambay, a crucial first step in unlocking the potential beneath the ocean floor. This exploration spirit continued in the western offshore region, where detailed seismic surveys led to a significant discovery in 1972-73: a large structure in the Bombay Offshore. Subsequent drilling confirmed the find, resulting in India’s biggest commercial oil discovery – the Bombay High field. The success of Bombay High spurred a wave of exploration activity. Determined to replicate this achievement, both ONGC and OIL expanded their efforts to other offshore areas. This extended not only along the western coast but also to the east, encompassing regions with promising geological formations. These initiatives yielded significant discoveries, including the Bassein and Neelam fields in the western offshore and the PY-3 and Ravva fields in the eastern offshore. While ONGC was initially focused on the western offshore, OIL, traditionally active in Assam, ventured beyond its base in 1978. They embarked on exploration activities in the Orissa offshore and onshore regions, demonstrating a strategic shift towards a broader national exploration strategy. OIL’s ambition further expanded with forays into the Andaman offshore (1979-89) and Rajasthan onshore. By the end of the 1980s, this collective effort by ONGC and OIL had resulted in the drilling of nearly 3,100 wells, a testament to their unwavering commitment to India’s energy security. Beyond oil exploration, ONGC also undertook extensive geoscientific surveys across various Indian states. Their investigations spanned Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Kutch and Andhra Pradesh. These meticulous surveys, coupled with advanced exploration techniques, bore fruit by the mid1980s. ONGC successfully identified promising prospects in the Cauvery and Krishna Godavari (KG) basins, laying the groundwork for future discoveries. A significant emphasis on offshore exploration was also placed on identifying natural gas reserves as well. This resulted in the discovery of several major gas fields. In 1976, OIL discovered the Kharsang oilfield, which also contained valuable gas reserves. That same year, ONGC made a landmark discovery with the Bassein field off Mumbai’s coast, one of India’s biggest gas finds. This success story continued with further discoveries by ONGC, including the MidTapti, South Tapti, and B-55 gas fields. Despite the impressive discoveries, the late 1970s also exposed limitations in India’s exploration capabilities. The country primarily relied on its National Oil Companies (NOCs)
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