AGARTALA, Dec 29 � Oil giant ONGC has explored as many as 11 wells in Tripura till the third quarter of the current fiscal year (2013-14) which was more than that of last year�s 10 explored wells, according to official sources.
In the last financial year (2012-13), the ONGC had been able to explore ten wells out of which Khubal showed positive results. Of the total explored wells, seven were exploratory wells while the remaining four were development wells. Though it was not known in how many wells the ONGC has discovered gas but the success rate in the exploration drive is 70:30 in Tripura, a little higher than the national average.
With new projects coming up, the ONGC has already steeped up activities in the field of exploration in the State. As of now, five ONGC-owned rigs are engaged in four potential areas � Agartala Dome, Khubal (Panisagar), Nabincherra (Pecharthal) and Debipur. Keeping in mind the future requirement of natural gas, the oil giant plans to engage more rigs to explore more areas in search of natural gas.
However, two exploratory rigs of Shivani Construction Pvt Ltd have been out of operation after the company went bankrupt.
Besides Palatana and Manarchak power plants, one fertilizser manufacturing company is coming up in Unakoti district. �Keeping in mind the future need, the ONGC has already envisaged a plan to explore more gas wells in the days to come�, said a official of the ONGC here on Friday.
Following pressure from the State Government, the ONGC has already struck a deal with the Chambel Fertiliser Ltd to set up a fertiliser manufacturing company near Panisagar in Unakoti district. The pre-feasibility report on the proposed unit had already been submitted.
Once the Rs 5,000 crore project is finalised, there will be an urgent need of huge natural gas. �Guessing the future requirement, the ONGC would continue to pursue a massive exploration drive in the State so that natural gas doesn�t come on the way of commissioning big projects,� he said.
