Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has announced four new oil discoveries in West Bengal, building on its initial find at Asokenagar.
This marks a significant advancement in the exploration of the Bengal sedimentary basin, following the discovery made six years ago.
However, ONGC is still awaiting approval from the West Bengal government for a petroleum mining lease (PML) to develop these newly identified reserves.
Initial Discovery at Asokenagar
ONGC made its first oil discovery at Asokenagar, located in Block WB-ONN-2005/4, in September 2018. This marked the culmination of more than five decades of exploration efforts in the Bengal sedimentary basin.
The crude oil found at Asokenagar is of a light variety, with an American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity of 40-41 degrees.
This quality is on par with premium oils produced in renowned regions like Bombay High and Brent Crude.
Delay in Petroleum Mining Lease Approval
Following the discovery, the central government recommended that West Bengal grant the PML to ONGC.
However, the necessary approval from the state government is still pending, hindering the commencement of exploration and development activities (EDP) for the oil fields.
This delay has significantly impacted the production of oil and gas from the region.
Continued Exploration Efforts
Despite the delay in obtaining the PML, ONGC has not slowed its exploration efforts.
The corporation has identified additional hydrocarbon reserves in several other wells, including Asokenagar-2, Kankpul-1, Bhurkunda-1, and Ranaghat-2.
These discoveries further boost the region’s overall hydrocarbon potential, showcasing ONGC’s commitment to expanding energy resources in the area.
As reported by projectstoday.com, while ONGC has made substantial strides in discovering new oil reserves in West Bengal, it is still awaiting the necessary permissions to fully develop these resources and contribute to the region’s oil and gas production.
