OIL Signs Pact With State Government For Exploration In Lower Assam Areas

Exploration for crude oil and natural gas in the northern bank of Brahmaputra in Assam will commence soon with the ...

Digital Desk: Exploration for crude oil and natural gas on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra in Assam will begin soon with the state government entering into an agreement with Oil India Ltd. (OIL), an official statement said on Friday.

The Assam government signed petroleum exploration license (PEL) deeds for two open acreage licensing policy (OALP) blocks with the PSU on Thursday, it added.

The agreement was signed by Ananda Kumar Das, the joint secretary and director (geology and mining) of the state government, and JPP Das, OIL executive director (frontier basin).

The area under block AS-ONHP-2021/2, measuring 2445.30 sq. km, falls in the districts of Barpeta, Nalbari, Baksa and Kamrup, whereas block AS-ONHP-2021/3, measuring 1840.87 sq. km, is spread across Udalguri, Kamrup and Darrang.

Notably, for the first time, crude oil and natural gas will be explored on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra in lower Assam.

According to the statement, OIL will invest roughly Rs 12 crore in the projects and will begin the seismic survey this month.