Betting big on the potential of petroleum and gas sector, mines and petroleum secretary of Rajasthan Anandhi is planning to expand the tapping area and exploration of oil and gas in the state.
She said that the state government will conduct fresh study and exploration of the potential of gas and oil reserves on the state.
“We will use best technology employed in tapping and exploration of oil and gas reserves across the world. This will help us not o my expanding but also optimising the exploration and tapping of discovered small fields (DSF),” she said.
Anandhi said the state government will encourage and motivate major players in the sector to expand their exploration base.
Seek data from NDR for fresh exploration
She said that the new areas of exploration will soon be identified after seeking data of prospective oil and gas reserves from the National Data Repository (NDR), which stores and maintains hydrocarbon exploration and production data in a safe and reusable manner, in perpetuity.
“A large number of cement plants are being set up in Jaisalmer area. We need to prepare a road map for uninterrupted supply of natural gas to those plants as alternate fuel source. Fuel is one of the major inputs of cement unit. A cheaper supply of green energy will help improve the sustainability of factory as well as ensure availability of natural gas in the state,” Anandhi said.
Oil and Gas sector has immense potential
Oil and gas is one of the major revenue sources of the state. There are 13 petroleum mining leases (PML) and 14 petroleum exploration licenses (PEL) are under operation in Rajasthan. Top oil and petroleum exploration companies like OIL, ONGC, Cairn Vedanta Limited and Focus Energy are working in the state. In the fiscal 2024, petroleum sector contributed Rs 3,425.08 crore to the state GDP.
“In this financial year upto August, 2024, a revenue of Rs 1,271.70 crore has been generated,” said Bhagwati Prasad Kalal, who is director mines and petroleum in Rajasthan.
He said that the state produces around 14.95% of the total crude oil being produced in the country.
“As far as oil is concerned, Rajasthan produces 3.3-3.4 million metric standard cubic meter gas in the state,” he said.
A total of about 10.8 billion cubic meter of natural gas proved reserves have been estimated by OIL, ONGC, Cairn Vedanta Limited and Focus Energy in Jaisalmer Basin & Barmer-Sanchore Basin.
Natural Gas is being produced by OIL from Tanot- Dandewala & by Focus Energy Ltd. from Shahgargh areas of Jaisalmer Basin for the supply to Ramgarh power plant.
OIL and Focus Energy have entered into an agreement with GAIL (India) Ltd and Rajasthan Rajya Vidhyut Utpadan Nigam (RRVUN) for supply of Natural Gas to Ramgarh Power Point.
Production of Natural gas has also been commenced from Raageshwari Deep Gas Field and other Fields (Associated Gas) of Barmer Basin, and through national grid is being supplied to GNFC, GSPC and KRIBHCO among others.
Prakash Bhandari is a veteran journalist with over 50 years of experience. He has worked with The Times of India for 30 years and contributed to leading publications as well as international news agency AFP.
