ONGC to conduct survey for gas reserves in Odisha: Pradhan

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited plans to conduct a 2D survey of all unapprised sedimentary basins for establishment of potential natural gas resources in Odisha.

While inaugurating a new office of the ONGC here, Pradhan said the corporation, which was engaged in exploration in the Mahanadi offshore areas, will do onshore 2D seismic survey in the Mahanadi basin.

He said the ONGC was planning to explore the established gas reserves in Odisha, which would be approximately Rs.10,000 crore.

"We will revisit the areas for exploration of the proven gas in the state. Since the cost of production is more, we will bring in new technology to make it cost-effective.

"ONGC is in the process of identifying the technology which will enable exploiting the established reserve economically," Pradhan said.

So far in totality, ONGC has drilled 26 wells in the deep water and three wells in the shallow water in the Mahanadi offshore area.

Pradhan said the ministry has decided to set up an LNG terminal in Odisha's Paradip, which will be largest in eastern India.

He said the central government has lined up of Rs.1 lakh investment in the energy sector in the state that includes Paradip-Surat and Ranchi-Paradip natural gas pipelines, city gas distribution network, strategic oil reserve at Chandikhole and revival of the Talcher fertiliser unit.

The union minister said a skill development centre of excellency would also be established in the state.

All these initiatives would generate employment and revenue for the people of Odisha in the coming years, he added.