Private sector drives India’s natural gas production up by 19.11% year-on-year in May

• The increase in gas production was driven by Reliance's D-34 field and other wells in the Satellite cluster of KG DWN 98/3 block
• The cumulative natural gas production during April-May was 1,578.55 MMSCM, which was 216.08 percent higher than the corresponding period of the previous financial year

New Delhi: India's overall natural gas production went up by 19.11 percent in May year-on-year on account of a massive 226.40 percent rise in output by the private sector and JV companies in the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) regime, data released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas showed. Primarily, the increase in gas production was driven by Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL) D-34 field of KG DWN 98/3 block in KG Basin, which commenced production in December 2020, and other wells in the Satellite cluster which began production in April this year, said the ministry.

The cumulative natural gas production during April-May was 5,391.14 MMSCM, which was 20.84 percent higher in comparison to the corresponding period of the last year and 2.61 percent lower than the target for the said period.

Natural gas production by private companies/JVs rise 226.40% y-o-y

Natural gas production by private and JV companies in the PSC (production sharing contracts) regime was 867.68 MMSCM in May, which was a whopping 226.40 percent higher when compared with May 2020 and 21.24 percent higher than the month's target, showed official data. The cumulative natural gas production during April-May was 1,578.55 MMSCM, which was 216.08 percent higher than the corresponding period of the previous financial year and 16.95 percent higher than the month's target. 

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ONGC's natural gas output declines 9.08% in May y-o-y

Natural gas production by Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the nomination blocks was 1,642.03 MMSCM in May, which was 13.12 percent lower than the target for the month and 9.08 percent lower when compared with May 2020. The cumulative natural gas production by ONGC during April-May was 3,367.53 MMSCM, which was 8.87 percent lower than the target for the period and 4.65 percent lower in comparison to the corresponding period of the last year. The ministry attributed the reduced gas production to the impact of Cyclone Tauktae on Western Offshore and a delay in commencement of gas production from U1 field of KG-98/2 Cluster-II due to COVID-19 impact. It added that production from the U1 field is expected to commence from August this year.

OIL records marginally higher production in May y-o-y

Natural gas production by Oil India Ltd (OIL) in the nomination block was 229.93 MMSCM in May, which was 0.75 percent higher than May 2020 but 8.38 percent lower than the target for the month. The cumulative natural gas production during April-May was 445.06 MMSCM, which was 3.44 percent higher than the production during the corresponding period of last year but 9.26 percent lower than the target for the period. According to the ministry, low upliftment, demand for gas by major customers and bandhs, blockades by local people and associations after the Baghjan Blowout affected the output.

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