Oil in India is obtained both from on-shore and off-shore areas, but off-shore areas made a major contribution.
On-shore Oil Production
India has several onshore oil fields, which are primarily located in the states of Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. The production of crude oil from these fields is primarily carried out by two state-owned companies, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL).
Assam is one of the major states for onshore oil production in India, and some of the significant oil fields in the state are Digboi, Naharkatiya, Geleki, Moran, and Hugrijan. These fields were discovered more than a century ago and have been producing oil for several decades.
Gujarat is another state with significant onshore oil production in India, and the Cambay basin in the state is a significant oil-producing region. Some of the major oil fields in the Cambay basin include Ankleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, and Cambay.
Rajasthan is also a significant onshore oil-producing state in India, and the Barmer basin in the state is the largest onshore oil-producing region in the country. The Barmer basin is home to the Mangala, Bhagyam, and Aishwarya oil fields, which are among the largest onshore oil fields in India.
Tamil Nadu is another state with onshore oil production in India, and the Cauvery basin in the state is a significant oil-producing region. Some of the major oil fields in the Cauvery basin include Neduvasal, Karaikal, and Vadakkenmaradi.
Overall, onshore oil fields play an important role in India’s energy sector and contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth.
Western Coast Off-Shore Oil fields
India’s western coast has several offshore oil fields that are major contributors to the country’s oil production. Some of the significant offshore oil fields located on India’s western coast are:
- Mumbai High: Located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, it is India’s largest offshore oil field, accounting for more than half of the country’s oil production. It was discovered in 1974, and its estimated reserves are around 1.5 billion tonnes of oil and gas.
- Bassein and Satellite Fields: Located in the Mumbai offshore basin, these fields were discovered in the 1980s and have estimated reserves of around 1.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 90 million barrels of crude oil.
- D1-D3 Fields: Located in the Krishna Godavari basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, these fields were discovered in 2002 and have estimated reserves of around 2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 50 million barrels of crude oil.
- Panna-Mukta Fields: Located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Gujarat, these fields were discovered in the 1980s and have estimated reserves of around 200 million barrels of oil and 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
- Ravva Field: Located in the Krishna Godavari basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, this field was discovered in 1987 and has estimated reserves of around 100 million barrels of oil and 300 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Offshore oil production involves higher costs and technical challenges compared to onshore oil production. Additionally, offshore oil production can have environmental impacts such as oil spills, which can harm marine life and ecosystems.