ONGC to survey Mahanadi basin for oil, natural gas

BHUBANESWAR: Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday launched the national seismic programme at Taranga village in Balasore's Soro block.
The project meant to trace hydrocarbon reserves like oil and natural gas across the country will be first taken up in the Mahanadi basin.
"The seismic survey of unapprised area in the Mahanadi basin (Onland) will tell us about the hydrocarbon resources in the state," said Pradhan.
The surveys will be conducted by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL), official sources said. ONGC will conduct the survey of around 40,835 Line Kilo Meter (LKM) in onland part of 26 sedimentary basins in 18 states and union territories, including the Mahanadi basin, while OIL will survey 7,408 LKM in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. The surveys will be completed by March 2019.
As many as 2,189 LKM in the Bhadrak-Jajpur region and 341 LKM in Chilika area in the Mahanadi basin have been identified for the survey.
These blocks are in Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts.
He said outcome of the project will contribute to better understanding of the sub-surface with petroleum systems across wider geological ages to explore the hydrocarbon reserves in the state.
"Once hydrocarbon potential of Odisha is established through these initiatives, it will lead to exploration and production (E&P) activities and attract significant investment in the sector generating employment opportunities and bringing prosperity to the state," said Pradhan.
Steel and mines minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick, CMD of ONGC Dinesh K Saraf and other senior officials of the oil ministry were present.