Bharat SainiLast Updated on January 20, 2017 by Bharat Saini
National Seismic Programme (NSP) aims to undertake a fresh appraisal in all the sedimentary basins across India, especially where no/scanty data is available, to have a better understanding of the hydrocarbon potential of India. Under this programme, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) have been entrusted to conduct 2D seismic Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation (API) across India. NSP will cover an estimated 48,243 Line Kilo Meter (LKM), covering 26 sedimentary basins divided into 11 units. The ONGC has been assigned to carry out the survey of 40,835 LKM in on-land part sedimentary basins in 18 States and Union Territories. The OIL has been assigned to carry out 2D seismic API of 7,408 LKM in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. The survey project will be completed by March 2019.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently launched ` 5000 crore, massive high-resolution acquisition with cutting edge modern technology 2D seismic survey, the National Seismic Programme, in Odisha to trace hydrocarbon resources like oil and natural gas in un-appraised area Mahanadi basin (Onshore), at Taranga village under Soro block in Balasore district. This would lead to Exploration & Production (E&P) activities and attract significant investment to the sector in the State generating employment opportunities and bringing prosperity to the State of Odisha.
In the Mahanadi basin, Bhadrak-Jajpur area of about 2,189 LKM and Chilika Lake area of about 341 LKM has been identified covering primarily Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha.
The outcome from the NSP would contribute to better understanding of the sub-surface with Petroleum Systems across wider geological ages to explore the hydrocarbon reserves in Odisha. The government’s is giving a lot of focus to hydrocarbon data. As much as 48% of the Indian sedimentary basin remains un-appraised and there has been no major finding in new sediments in the last 25 years.
In addition to the national seismic programme, the government is carrying out a reassessment of hydrocarbon data of existing sedimentary basins. The third big thing is the single platform where all the data is being brought together, or the national data repository, which we will be dedicated to the nation very soon. The survey work would eventually lead to enhanced exploration and production (E&P) activities in Odisha. Work on such surveys in these parts in the 80s had even resulted in some evidence of on-land Gas findings.
The presence of gas has been established about 30 km offshore of Dhamra in a discovery by Reliance in the past. In fact ONGC has sought time from the government to pursue further exploration at two deep water blocks that the company hasn’t surrendered. ONGC, which has already begun the survey in Saurashtra, aims to have three-fourths of the total area in the country to be appraised by 2020.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launching the National Seismic Programme at Mahanadi Basin (On-land)
