Lok Sabha Question No. 401 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Consultancy Contracts by ONGC
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Anand Bhadauria

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 401 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  August, 2025

## Consultancy Contracts by ONGC

† *401. Shri Anand Bhadauria:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

(a) whether any consultancy assignments in the North-Eastern Region have been awarded to M/S Beicip-Franlab by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on a nomination basis without following any tender process and if so, the details thereof including the value of assignments and nature of contracts for all the said projects;

- (b)  the  names  of  foreign  companies  which  have  not  been  considered  for  the  said assignments including the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  said  contract  conforms  to  the  General  Financial  Rules  (GFR)  and  CVC guidelines and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the persons responsible for the said lapse; and
- (e) whether any responsibility has been fixed in this regard and if so, the details of action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी (ŵी हरदीप िसंह पुरी)

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *401  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  21.08.2025  REGARDING 'CONSULTANCY CONTRACTS BY ONGC' ASKED BY SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA

(a) to (c): No. No consultancy assignment has been awarded to M/s Beicip-Franlab in the North Eastern Region by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC).

(d) to (e) : Does not arise, in view of above

It is also emphasised that, ONGC is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and a major contributor to our economy. It engages with experienced specialized entities for complex technical studies such as modelling of permeable reservoirs, deep-water subsurface studies and interpretation  of  data  for  production  enhancement.  These  studies  require  highly  specialised domain  knowledge,  proprietary/patented  software,  advanced  modelling  techniques,  research infrastructure and timely delivery capabilities.

Across the world, only a handful of entities provide these specialised services. One such entity, M/s Beicip-Franlab, operates under the control of IFPEN ( Institut Français du Pétrole Energies Nouvelles),  a  state  of  the  art  and  world  renowned  Research  &  Development  (R&D)  institute under  the  Ministry  of  Energy,  Government  of  France.  IFPEN  has  extensive  global  experience and  recognition  in  these  specialised  areas  especially  in  deep  and  ultra-deep  water  studies, patented  proprietary  software  for  reservoir  modelling,  which  is  technically  complex.  Also, ONGC has a running Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IFPEN (last renewed in 2023) for  joint  research  and  technical  collaboration  for  exploration  and  development  of hydrocarbon reserves and implementation of new technologies, including renewable energy.

ONGC undertakes large number of  exploration and production projects across the country as per its  Board  approved  guidelines  which  are  in  line  with  the  principles  laid  out  by  the  General Financial Rules (GFR) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). It is reiterated in reference to (a) that no contract has been awarded to M/s Beicip-Franlab in the North Eastern Region ONGC. Even in other regions, it has been found that the total value of the assignments awarded to M/s Beicip-Franlab is less than Rs 6.5 crore in the last five years, which is a miniscule percentage for this  Maharatna  Company  that  has  an  average  Profit After  Tax  (PAT)  of  more  than  Rs  33,000 crore per annum (in last five years).

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