ONGC Boosts Gas Production in Tripura Amid Supply Concerns

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is ramping up its gas production in Tripura to support power generation plants facing supply shortages. Targeting 1,675 MMSCM for the 2024-25 fiscal, the company plans to dig 20 new wells and employ cluster drilling to enhance output. ONGC's Tripura Asset Manager Krishna Kumar underscores the importance of efficient gas utilization.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has ramped up its operations to increase gas production in Tripura, aiming to bolster the supply to power generation plants in the region, an official disclosed on Monday.

The move follows reports of dwindling gas supply affecting various gas-powered plants in the state. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, ONGC produced 1,527 million standard cubic metres (MMSCM) of gas in Tripura and has now set a target of 1,675 MMSCM for the current fiscal year.

ONGC's Tripura Asset Manager, Krishna Kumar, informed PTI that the corporation is committed to increasing gas production to ensure a steady supply to the power plants. The plan includes drilling 20 new wells and adding another rig to the existing six that are currently operational. Further, ONGC is exploring cluster drilling techniques to utilize old well sites effectively, eliminating the need for new land acquisition and fresh state approvals, which streamline the process and reduce costs.

Highlighting the issue of surplus gas, Kumar emphasized that any shutdown of units at the Palatana power plant leads to excess gas, creating losses for ONGC. The current infrastructure of other plants in the state is inadequate to handle the surplus, complicating the situation.

ONGC's strategy is to ensure reliable gas supply while mitigating risks associated with surplus production, crucial for the uninterrupted operation of state-run gas-based power plants in Tripura.