Paving the way for start-up firms and new players with little experience in operating hydrocarbon blocks, the country’s two public sector explorers — ONGC and Oil India — have decided to stay away from the ongoing auctions of the 67 discovered marginal oil and gas fields. The auction would close on October 30 and the fields are likely to be awarded as early as January next year.
Although the policy put in place for the auction does not bar any company from bidding.
Proven reserves in these fields are estimated to be 88 million tonnes of oil equivalent worth over Rs 77,000 crore at current crude oil price of $45 per barrel. Production of hydrocarbon from these fields would help India cut down imports to the tune of Rs 3,500 crore annually, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said.
“There are several investors (who do not own blocks) who are keen to buy stake in hydrocarbon blocks and this is the best opportunity for them. Moreover, marginal fields give the chance to various services provider firms to take up these blocks that are small and discovered, particularly the onshore ones,” said a Chief Executive of a private sector explorer. The company is evaluating data for 20 blocks — 12 onshore and 8 offshore.
Pradhan has addressed roadshows across the US, the UK, Singapore and West Asia, apprising them of the government’s efforts to improve the ‘ease of doing business.’
More than dozen firms engaged in the oil and gas services sector have purchased the geological data for the blocks and are likely to bid. The absence of giants such as ONGC and OIL would make it possible for smaller players to bid as operators.
During the industry interactions between the petroleum Ministry, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) and companies, several players have pointed out that the fields are smaller in size and volume of hydrocarbon present for big players to bet their stakes.
Unlike the areas auctioned under the New Exploration Licensing Policy adopted by India in 1999, the 67 fields to be auctioned are “discovered” ones, meaning the reserve position is known. The operators could therefore proceed to the development stage straight away without spending time and funds on exploration. The government has determined fixed timelines to commence production from these fields — three years for onshore, four years for shallow water and six years for deep water fields.
Source: The Financial Express
