AGARTALA, June 16 (TIWN): For the first time in the history of the Left ruled Tripura, the Tripura unit of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has successfully introduced most advance technology of Hydro-Fracturing (HF) to intensify the exploration of natural gas to supply in different projects of the state ensuring giant gas reserve for the next 20 years. Talking to TIWN on Monday ONGC Director Onshore, New Delhi V P Mahawar said, “The ONGC had undertaken the hydro-fracturing method in Assam earlier this year to explore more natural gas. A similar system has been carried out in Tripura now.”

“The ONGC has undertaken hydro-fracturing for the first of its kind in Khubal gas field areas (in northern Tripura) to assess actual reserves of the field and later in Baramura (in western Tripura) to enhance production from tight sands,” Mahawar said to TIWN. Towards providing leadership in quest of indigenisation in import intensive oil and gas industry, ONGC has undertaken an important initiative for innovation in the field of hydraulic fracturing.

Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has signed an agreement with Super Wave Technology for doing research on alternative technology for hydraulic fracturing.

Mahawar said, “To conduct more hydro-fracturing operations in other gas bearing fields of Tripura, a permanent Well Stimulation Service (WLL) unit would be set up in Tripura” adding to that he said that the hydraulic fracturing system is one of the most advanced technology which would boost the existing gas reserves in Tripura. “We are eyeing forward to bring the land-locked state Tripura under the coverage of giant gas reserve,” said Mahawar.

He said, “We have already carried out the HF on at least three places at Khubal. ONGC targets its potentiality of at least 2.3 Metric Ton of gas but the urea plant would be set up with a potentiality of around 1.3 MT of gas.” The ONGC Tripura Asset had successfully carried the same at Baramura recently to know the same to arrest the declining production of the ageing Baramura gas field and to enhance productivity from tight reservoir sands of this area, said Mahawar.

“The actual potentiality of the gas at both the sites – Khubal and Baramura would be known only after the activation procedure is over and it would take some more time,” Mahawar said. The results of the post-activation jobs in these wells would provide a lead in assessing the reservoirs and way forward for the effective stimulation of these structures.

The company has drilled 190 wells in the state so far, out of which gas was found in 94 wells- which is an encouraging trend. The company made discovery of commercial gas in Khubal area in February 2009 and completed drilling of seven exploratory out of which 2 wells are gas bearing.

ONGC is an Indian multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Dehradun, India. It is India’s largest oil and gas exploration and production company. It produces around 69% of India's crude oil (equivalent to around 30% of the country's total demand) and around 62% of its natural gas.