OIL starts hydrocarbon exploration in Tripura

Agartala: Oil India Ltd (OIL), the second Maharatna company after ONGC, has initiated its maiden hydrocarbon exploration project in Tripura at Debtamura hill in Gomati district under India's Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).

Earlier this week, OIL officials began their exploration activities following a technical report that indicated substantial hydrocarbon deposits in the area. The commencement was marked by a modest ground-breaking ceremony in the hilly settlement.

Officials confirmed their plans to drill the initial well within the Baramura-Debtamura Reserve Forest, situated along the Indo-Bangladesh border. The state's hydrocarbon exploration efforts have encountered obstacles due to extensive forest reserves and transportation challenges.

Over the past 53 years, ONGC has established more than 200 wells, primarily across West Tripura, South Tripura, Gomati and North Tripura districts. Currently, it generates 3.5 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meters of gas daily, supporting the 726MW Palatana power facility and the 100MW power station at Monarchak.

ONGC supplies gas to Tripura Natural Gas Company Ltd, which operates approximately 12 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations. The company delivers clean fuel to vehicles and provides piped natural gas to more than 2000 households in Agartala for cooking purposes.

While ONGC and several private companies have undertaken exploration activities in specific regions of Tripura with limited success, the arrival of OIL in exploration operations is expected to strengthen the state's economic prospects.