Lok Sabha Question No. 4681 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Modernisation of Framework Governing Oil and Gas Exploration
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4681

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st August, 2025

## MODERNISATION OF FRAMEWORK GOVERNING OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

## 4681. DR. K SUDHAKAR:

SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  recent  reforms  to  modernise  the regulatory  framework  governing  upstream  oil  and  gas  exploration  and production  in  the country;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  and  the  key  features  thereof  particularly  in  relation  to  improving investor confidence, infrastructure sharing and operational flexibility;

(c)  whether  the  said  reforms  also  include  measures  to  facilitate  integration  of  renewable and low-carbon energy projects within petroleum lease areas and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  environmental  safeguards,  data governance and dispute resolution under the new framework; and

(e) the details of gas exploration undertaken along with the oil wells discovered during the recent years?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛमंũी (ŵी सुरे श गोपी)

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a) to (d): The Oilfield (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2025 was notified on 28 th March 2025 and was made effective from 15 th April, 2025. The Salient Features of the Oilfield  (Regulation  and  Development)  Amendment  Act,  2025  which inter-alia include easing out difficulties and boost investors' confidence, are as under:

(i) delinking of petroleum operations from mining operations;

(ii) broadening of the scope of the expression 'mineral oils';

(iii) Introducing the concept of 'petroleum lease';

(iv) granting lease on stable terms;

(v)  strengthening  petroleum  operations  through  rules  framed  for  governing  various functional  aspects,  such  as,  grants  of  leases  or  licences,  their  extension  or  renewal, sharing of production and processing facilities including infrastructure and safety at oilfields;

- (vi) providing for efficacious dispute resolution;
- (vii) decriminalising the provisions of the Act.
- (viii) introduction of penalties, adjudication by an adjudicating authority and appeal as against the order of adjudicating authority;
- (ix) creating an environment for facilitating energy transition by enabling development of comprehensive energy projects for harnessing wind and solar energy along with mineral oil at oilfields.
- (e): 34  Notices  of  Discovery  (NoD)  have  been  submitted  by  operators  to  the  Directorate General of Hydrocarbon during the last three years. The details are as under:

| Type of Hydrocarbon discoveries during the last 3 Years   | Type of Hydrocarbon discoveries during the last 3 Years   | Type of Hydrocarbon discoveries during the last 3 Years   | Type of Hydrocarbon discoveries during the last 3 Years   | Type of Hydrocarbon discoveries during the last 3 Years   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                      | Gas                                                       | Oil                                                       | Oil & Gas                                                 | Grand Total                                               |
| 2022-23                                                   | 6                                                         | 4                                                         | 2                                                         | 12                                                        |
| 2023-24                                                   | 5                                                         | 5                                                         | 2                                                         | 12                                                        |
| 2024-25                                                   | 5                                                         | 3                                                         | 2                                                         | 10                                                        |
| Grand Total                                               | 16                                                        | 12                                                        | 6                                                         | 34                                                        |

21 of these discoveries are onland and 13 of these discoveries are offshore.

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