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OIL to hunt for oil & gas under Brahmaputra bed
Oil India Ltd (OIL) is once again gearing up to explore oil and natural gas reserves under the Brahmaputra, one of the most turbulent rivers in the world. OIL, the Upper Assam based exploration giant, recently wrote to the Director General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) seeking permission to carry out seismic survey in Brahmaputra riverbed to search for oil and gas. Utpal Bora, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of OIL, told The Sentinel on Tuesday that back in 2005 the company had taken up a project to explore oil and gas under the mighty river, but had to put that plan on hold following protests from several organizations.
In 2005, several organizations as well as militant outfit ULFA had opposed and tried to mobilize public resistance against the OIL’s bid to carry out seismic surveys in Brahmaputra riverbed. Bora, speaking to this correspondent on the sidelines of a function of the OIL here this afternoon, said that many of those who once protested against such exploration in the Brahmaputra, are now favoring the same. “OIL has once again decided to embark upon a tough journey to hunt for oil and gas in the middle of the Brahmaputra. We have written to the DGH in this regard seeking permission to carry out seismic survey. We are hopeful of a positive response and begin survey work at the earliest,” he said.
Expressing grave concern over fall in production of crude oil in the last few years, Bora said the OIL has initiated all-out efforts to arrest the slide and to raise production. He said crude production by the OIL came down from 3.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2010-11 to 3.2 MMT in the last financial year, which is a major area of concern. “Decline in crude oil production is a challenge for us and we are ready to face it boldly,” he said. OIL wants to increase production to meet the target of 3.48 MMT in the current financial year. Dustin Brown Womens Jersey
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