HELP Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy

Tamil Research Institution (TRI)
India's Hydrocarbon Outlook : 2015-16
I. Nomination Basis:
II.
Till the end of 1970s, Indian E&P industry was dominated by the two National Oil Companies (NOCs) - ONGC and
OIL to whom PELs were granted on nomination basis. Exploration was primarily confined to onland and shallow
offshore.
Pre-NELP Exploration Blocks:
28 Exploration blocks were awarded to private companies between 1980 and prior to implementation of NELP where
ONGC and OIL have the rights for participation in the blocks after hydrocarbon discoveries.
Table 2.2 : Brief details of the Pre-NELP Exploration blocks:
PRE-NELP
Year Rounds Description
1980 1 st Exploration round PSC signed with Chevron, USA and 3 wells were drilled
without success, block area was relinquished in 1985
Contracts signed
Offshore Onshore Total
1 0 1
1982 2 nd Exploration round No PSC signed 0 0 0
1986 3 rd Exploration round - 0 0 0
1991 4 th Exploration round - 2 3 5
1992 - First development round - - -
1993 5 th Exploration round Second development round 4 2 6
- 6 th Exploration round First speculative survey round 2 3 5
1994 7 th Exploration round - 2 3 5
- 8 th Exploration round Second speculative survey round 1 3 4
1995 9 th Exploration round Joint Venture Speculative Survey Round (JVSSR) 1 1 2
TOTAL 13 15 28
In 1993, GoI offered blocks for geophysical and other surveys to update the information on hydrocarbon potential of India’s
unexplored sedimentary basins. Once the surveys on these blocks were completed, they were to be offered in subsequent
rounds of exploration. The Second speculative survey round was launched in 1994 and the third round in 1995. The third
round was called as Joint Venture Speculative Survey Round (JVSSR) with a provision of risk participation/cost sharing
by DGH up to 50%.
III.
Pre-NELP Discovered Field or Development Rounds:
Government offered Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) of small/medium sized discovered fields (proven reserves were
discovered by ONGC and OIL) to the private sector in August 1992. Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) awarded during
1991-1993 had the distinctive feature of operators as private companies with ONGC/OIL as having participating interest.
These rounds received overwhelming response from various private E&P operators.
Table 2.3 : Pre-NELP Discovered Field or Development Rounds
Month/Year of
award
Round
Blocks offered in Medium sized
field Round
Blocks offered in Small sized field
Round
Offshore Onshore Offshore Onshore
Contracts
signed
August 1992 1 6 6 10 21 18
October 1993 2 2 6 4 29 10
Total Contracts signed: 28
www.tamilri.com
23