GUWAHATI: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has said that Dirok Field at Margarita in Assam’s Tinsukia district has achieved a significant milestone in India’s journey towards energy independence.
The Dirok Field is located in the ON-94/1 block at Margarita.
Operated by the Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC) in partnership with Oil India Limited (OIL) and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the field has successfully tested a new reservoir, Sand-9, in well Dirok-1.
The union minister said, “This test has produced an impressive flow rate of 6 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.”
He said, “Inspired by the vision of our PM Narendra Modi, our Oil & Gas sector is striving hard to discover new finds and monetize existing discoveries. In a significant development, Dirok Field at Margarita in the Tinsukia district of Assam and operated by HOEC with OIL and IOCL has achieved a milestone.”
The union minister said production testing is ongoing, based on which, the volumes will be revised and added to the proven reserves of Dirok Field.
The field is a joint venture (JV) operation, with HOEC holding a 26.88 percent stake, Oil India Limited (OIL) holding 44.09 percent, and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) holding 29.03 percent.
HOEC, along with its partners OIL and IOCL, has been at the forefront of enhancing India’s energy security.
The Dirok Field, since its inception, has been playing a key role in contributing to the domestic gas supply, and this discovery is set to further bolster this contribution.
This collaborative effort operates under a production-sharing contract initially signed in June 1998. The exploration activities in the Dirok block started in November 2000, leading to the discovery of substantial gas reserves in the state.
The field is estimated to hold 11.88 million metric barrels of oil equivalent. The Dirok Field is undergoing Phase II development, which includes drilling three new development wells and laying a 35km pipeline extending to Duliajan.
This development aims to increase gas production capacity from 35 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) to 55 mmscfd.
The ongoing efforts in Assam and other regions are crucial in ensuring a sustainable and secure energy future for India.
Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC) is a leading player in India’s oil and gas sector and is known for its commitment to exploration and production excellence.
Oil India Limited (OIL) is a premier national oil company engaged in developing and producing crude oil and natural gas.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is India’s largest commercial enterprise, playing a significant role in the country’s oil and gas industry.