India hope: ONGC has reportedly made a potentially huge find in the Deccan Traps area of northern India
ONGC in 'potentially huge' Deccan find
Recent oil and gas discoveries by India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) below the Deccan Traps region of the north-west of the country could unlock potentially huge resources if proved commercial, local media reported.
India’s Economic Times reported that oil and gas struck in the Karjan-9 well in the Ankleshwar area of Gujarat state indicated a new prospect discovery in the area. If proved commercial, the paper said, the find could turn India into a major oil producer.
The paper quoted an unnamed local expert as saying the discovery, in Mesozoic sediments under the Deccan plateau could unlock potentially huge reserves.
The Deccan Traps refers to massive volcanic outflows covering marine sediments uplifted during the formation of the Himalayas. The Deccan plateau covers much of north-western India.
The paper quoted former Indian oil minister Shankar Aiyar as saying the Deccan plateau could contain more oil than the Middle Eastern Gulf region. It said current Oil Minister Murli Deora had persuaded ONGC to explore in the area.
The Economic Times also reported that ONGC had struck gas in the Kunjaban-3 well on the northern Argatala field and oil in the Halisa-12 well in the Ahmedabad region, both also in Gujarat.
It quoted another expert as saying the finds opened up a new stratigraphic play in the region.