Lok Sabha Question No. 241 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Aged/Closed Oil Wells
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: YOGI ADITYANATH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 241 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 th  March, 2017

## Aged/Closed Oil Wells

## †*241. SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH:

पैट्रोलियम व प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

## Will  the  Minister  of  PETROLEUM  AND  NATURAL  GAS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether a number of oil wells operated by various public and private sector oil companies are over aged and producing oil and gas below their capacity or have been closed down and if so, the details thereof, oil field and State/UT-wise;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review/redevelop  the  old/aged  oil  wells/ fields and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  various  initiatives/steps  taken  including  adoption  of  latest  technology  to increase oil production from the aged/ closed oil wells, oil-field and State/UT-wise; and
- (d)  the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  adequate supply/availability of oil and natural gas in the country?

## ANSWER

पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( स्विन्त्त्र प्रभार ) ( श्री धमेन्त्र प्रधान )

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (I/C)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  PETROLEUM  &  NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARAMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 241 BY SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2017 REGARDING AGED/CLOSED OIL WELLS

- (a) .  Most of crude oil production in the country is from ageing fields in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Offshore areas. The details of flowing and non-flowing oil wells of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.  (ONGC), Oil India  Ltd.(OIL)  and  Private/JV  Companies  are  given below:-
- (b)  &  (c). In  order  to  enhance  recovery  from  ageing  fields,  oil  companies  are implementing new technologies. During the life of the well, the oil production from an oil  well  may  cease  due  to  various  reasons,  such  as  natural  decline  in  reservoir pressure, water/sand ingress and wellbore mechanical problems etc. Such sick wells are revived through well work-over / intervention jobs, if economically viable. The oil companies  have  taken/are  taking  several  measures  to  revive  the  sick  wells  to increase  oil  production,  such  as  Improved  Oil  Recovery  (IOR)/  Enhanced  Oil Recovery (EOR) Schemes.
- (d). Government  of  India has  taken several policy initiatives as well as administrative  measures  to  enhance  production  of  oil  and  gas  in  the  country  for meeting domestic demand. The policy initiatives can be mentioned as:
- i. Policy for Relaxations, Extensions  and  clarifications  under  Production Sharing  Contract  (PSC)  regime  for  early  monetization  of  hydrocarbon Discoveries.
- ii. Policy on Testing Requirements.
- iii. Discovered Small Field Policy.
- iv. Policy for marketing freedom for gas production from difficult areas.
- v. Policy for exploration in Mining Lease Area.
- vi. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.
- vii. Policy for Extension of Production Sharing Contracts.
- viii. Shale Gas Policy etc.

|                   | Flowing Oil Wells   | Flowing Oil Wells   | Flowing Oil Wells   | Non-Flowing Oil wells   | Non-Flowing Oil wells   | Non-Flowing Oil wells   |       |
|-------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------|
| States/Locations  | PSC Regime          | Nomination (ONGC)   | Nomination (OIL)    | PSC Regime              | Nomination (ONGC)       | Nomination (OIL)        | Total |
| Andhra Pradesh    |                     | 43                  |                     |                         | 24                      |                         | 67    |
| Assam             |                     | 517                 | 372                 |                         | 273                     | 731                     | 1893  |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 35                  |                     | 1                   | 31                      |                         | 12                      | 79    |
| Gujarat           | 136                 | 2982                |                     | 99                      | 847                     |                         | 4064  |
| Rajasthan         | 255                 |                     | 2                   | 134                     |                         | 34                      | 425   |
| Tamil Nadu        | 4                   | 94                  |                     | 1                       | 70                      |                         | 169   |
| Eastern Offshore  | 37                  | 1                   |                     | 23                      | 2                       |                         | 63    |
| Western Offshore  | 57                  | 1148                |                     | 100                     | 104                     |                         | 1409  |
| Total             | 524                 | 4785                | 375                 | 388                     | 1320                    | 777                     | 8169  |

Some  of  the  other  steps  taken  to  encourage  production  of  oil  and  gas  by  the Government are:

- i. Setting up of National Data Repository.
- ii. Appraisal of Unappraised area in Sedimentary Basin.
- iii. Streamlining of functioning of Management Committee for timely approval of Work Program and Budget in PSC regime
- iv. Re-assessment of Hydrocarbon Resources.

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