From Our Correspondent
Agartala: Tripura will emerge as biggest on-land natural gas producing state in the country with the oil giant- ONGC focussing to produce 50 lakh cubic meter gas (5 MMSCMD) per day by beginning of 2014.
As of now, the oil major produces 18 lakh cubic meter gas (1.83 MMSCMD) per day from all of its operational wells, said outgoing Executive Director, Tripura Asset K. Satyanarayana in an exclusive interview with The Shillong Times here on Friday.
In the last year (2011-12), the ONGC against all odds has drilled 15 wells across the state while it plans to drill 15 more potential wells during 2012-13 Financial Year, he said.
“We are confident of achieving the target in the field of exploration by introducing state of art technology”, Satyanarayana, who has been elevated to Director, On-Shore of the oil giant said.
Referring the emphasis laid down by Director (Drilling and Oil Service) UN Bose at the two-day Joint Conference of Drilling and Oil Service held here, Satyanarayana said the ONGC would induct state of art technology for enhancing efficiency and reduction in drilling cost.
“The Rig transportation and Rig building times have been significantly brought down from 25 days to 15 days”, he said.
Asserting that the good performance of the Tripura Asset had earned appreciation from the Director Mr. Bose, he said five more Rigs would be inducted in the ONGC fleet to intensify exploration drive by end of October or November. As of now, five Rigs are deployed in existing drilling activities while two Rigs are employed for well service.
On being asked gas supply to two proposed power projects- Palatana and Manarchak, Satyanarayana stated the ONGC is confident to supply 2.6 MMSCMD gas to OTPC for Palatana power project and .5 MMSCMD to NEEPCO for running Manarchak power plant.
Saying that Tripura has a good potential in the field of natural gas, the outgoing ONGC Tripura Asset confidently said the way plans are being envisaged and executed by the oil major, Tripura would soon be energy hub not only in Northeast India but also in the entire nation.
The ONGC has also been trying to develop Khoubal well keeping in mind of the oil giant’s plan for setting up fertiliser plant near Kumarghat in newly created Unakoti district, he added.
In Tripura, the ONGC has so far drilled 145 wells out of which natural gas was found in 74 wells, which considered a major success of ONGC in the field of gas exploration in the entire nation.