Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday inaugurated the National Seismic Programme (NSP) in Odisha at Taranga in Baleswar district.
The NSP aims to undertake a fresh appraisal in all sedimentary basins across India, especially where no/scanty data is available, to have better understanding of the hydrocarbon potential of India.
Under this programme, ONGC and OIl have been entrusted to conduct 2D seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation (API) across India. While ONGC has been assigned to carry out 2D seismic API of approx. 40,835 line Kilo Meter (lKM) in onland part of 26 sedimentary basins in 18 States/Union Territory of India including Odisha’s Mahanadi basin, OIl has been assigned to carry out 2D seismic API of 7408 lKM in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
The NSP for 2D seismic API Project would be completed by March, 2019.
Mahanadi Basin in Odisha has been chosen as the first location for the roll out of the NSP. The 2D seismic survey of unapprised area in Mahanadi Basin (Onland) would establish potential of hydrocarbon resources in the state.
In the Mahanadi basin, the Bhadrak-Jajpur area of about 2,189 lKM and the Chilika lake area of about 341 lKM have been identified covering primarily Keonjhar, Baleswar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Khordha and Ganjam districts.
High-resolution 2D seismic acquisition with cutting edge modern technology is planned in Mahanadi Basin area. The Acquisition strategies scheduled from October 2016 to June 2018 while Processing and Interpretation are scheduled from July 2018 to December 2018.
The total investment for the seismic acquisition in the on land Mahanadi Basin is Rs 79.57 crore.
On the occasion the Union Minister expressed the confidence that once hydrocarbon potential of Odisha is established through these initiatives, it would lead to exploration and production (E&P) activities and attract significant investment to the sector in the State generating employment opportunity and bringing prosperity to the State.
Odisha Steel and Mines Prafulla Kumar Mallick, ONGC CMD Dinesh K Saraf and other senior officials of PNG Ministry were present on the occasion.