Gail India will do Exploration of Mineral Oil and Natural Gas in 486.39 Square Kilometer Area of Barmer-Jaisalmer

• 26 Dec 2022

Why In News?

On December 25, 2022, Dr. Subodh Agarwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Mines and Petroleum Department, Rajasthan, informed that exploration of oil and natural gas in 486.39 square km area of Barmer-Jaisalmer in the state will be done by Gail India, a Government of India undertaking.

Key Points

• Dr. Subodh Agarwal said that Gail India has been allotted a block for 3 years plus 9 months for exploration of oil and natural gas in Barmer-Jaisalmer area. Gail India has been allotted this block in the seventh cycle under the Open Acre Licensing Policy.
• He said that this petroleum exploration license has been issued on the recommendation of the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Central Government. GAIL India will explore mineral oil and natural gas in the region.
• It is known that Rajasthan ranks first in mineral oil production in the on land sector in the country. At present , petroleum and gas are being produced by ONGC and Oil India in Barmer and Jaisalmer fields in the state. For this, ONGC has been given 9 licenses and Oil India has been given 2 licenses.
• Apart from this, exploration work is being done by issuing 16 petroleum exploration licenses in the state, out of which Vedanta is issuing 9 licenses, Oil India 5, ONGC and GAIL India 1 each. Exploration work is also being done in Barmer-Jaisalmer as well as Bikaner and Sriganga Nagar areas.
• Dr. Subodh Agarwal said that GAIL Gas has been allocated RJ-ONHP-2021/1 block in Barmer and Jaisalmer. In this area, GAIL India will explore and produce mineral crude oil, natural gas, coal bed methane CBM and shale gas.
• He said that information about operation, boring and production will be given by GAIL every six months. Similarly, if other minerals are found during exploration, it will also be informed immediately. Exploration, survey and digging activities will not be allowed in the area associated with the Army during exploration by GAIL.
• Increasing the productivity of mineral oil and gas will also increase investment, employment and revenue in the state. At present, about one lakh barrels of crude oil per day and about 41 to 44 lakh cubic meters of gas are being produced in the state.