Lok Sabha Question No. 138 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Hydrocarbon Exploration in Kangra-Mandi Petroleum Exploration Licence Area
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 138 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 th  January, 2026

## Hydrocarbon Exploration in Kangra-Mandi Petroleum Exploration License Area

138.  Shri Anurag Singh Thakur:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

- (a) the current status of hydrocarbon exploration in the Kangra-Mandi Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) area including details of recent 2D/3D  (two dimensional and three dimensional)  seismic  data  acquisition  and  reprocessing  of  vintage  data  by  ONGC  or  other agencies indicating renewed or  significant gas shows seepages or reservoir potential in the area;
- (b) whether recent drilling or geological modelling has established the commercial viability of thermogenic gas reserves in the Subathu and Dharamshala formations particularly within the complex 'Triangle Zone' structures of Jwalamukhi, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the total expenditure incurred to date and the projected expenditure for further exploration and appraisal in the above blocks;
- (d)  the  likely  timeframe  for  completion  of  appraisal  and  commencement  of  commercial production, if found viable along with the challenges involved, if any; and
- (e) the policy roadmap for further Himalayan exploration and the measures proposed to make commercially viable the untapped resource potential in the Himalayan formations ?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी (ŵी सुरेश गोपी)

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

(a):  The Kangra-Mandi Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) block covering an area of 3800 sq.km.was awarded to ONGC as Nomination Block w.e.f 10.11.1997. During the exploration phase, ONGC  acquired  1212  Line  Kilometers  (LKM)  of  2D  seismic  data,  conducted geochemical surveys over 300 sq. km, and drilled five exploratory wells in the area.The PEL, including re-grants, expired on 28.11.2021.

In addition, one block (HF-ONHP-2017/1) in the Mandi area was awarded under OALP to M/s Vedanta Limited. The PEL for this block expired on 30.05.2025 and was relinquished without undertaking exploration activities.

(b) & (d): The commercial viability of thermogenic gas reserves in the Subathu and Dharamsala Formations, including the structurally complex Triangle Zone around Jwalamukhi, has not been established  so  far.  No  discovery  has  been  notified  in  the  area  till  date.  As  no  hydrocarbon discovery has been established, the question of appraisal, determination of commercial viability, or commencement of production does not arise at this stage.

(c):   ONGC has incurred a cumulative expenditure of ₹582 crore in the Kangra-Mandi PEL up to  FY 2021-22. No expenditure has been reported in OALP block HF-ONHP-2017/1, as the contractor relinquished the block without executing the committed work programme. At present, no further exploration expenditure is envisaged in the area.

(e):      Government  launched  the  National  Seismic  Programme  (NSP)  in  2017  to  improve geological understanding of poorly explored basins, including the Himalayan region. Under NSP, about 709 LKM of seismic data and 1,817 FLKM (flight line kilometers)of Airborne Gravity  Gradiometry  (AGG)  data  have  been  acquired  in  the  Himalayan  Foreland  Basin. Further, one exploration block covering 990.86 sq. km in the Himalayan Foreland Basin has been carved out under OALP Bid Round-X, reflecting continued policy efforts to reassess and unlock hydrocarbon potential in the region.

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