**Policy Summary: Exploration and Production Activities of Oil Companies in Northeast Region**
This document summarizes the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3022, answered on August 7, 2025, regarding exploration and production activities of oil companies in the Northeast Region of India.
**Estimated Petroleum Reserves:** As of April 1, 2025, the estimated petroleum reserves and resources in the Northeast Region are 150.15 Million Metric Tons (MMT) for Crude Oil and 198.25 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) for Natural Gas, according to the Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS).
**Recent Developments in Exploration and Production:** From FY 2022-23 to Q1 of FY 2025-26, exploration activities included the acquisition of 2,753 Line Kilometers of 2D seismic data and 1,758 Square Kilometers of 3D seismic data. During this period, 115 exploratory wells were drilled, resulting in 11 Notices of Discovery (NOD) submitted to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), and 7 discoveries were monetized. These efforts led to a total production of 13.131 MMT of crude oil and 15.158 BCM of natural gas over the last three years.
**Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production by ONGC and OIL:** The production figures for Crude Oil (MMT) and Natural Gas (BCM) by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) in the North Eastern region are as follows:
| Companies | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| --------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- |
| ONGC | 1.009 | 1.046 | 1.051 | 2.030 | 1.859 | 1.563 |
| OIL | 3.159 | 3.334 | 3.425 | 3.041 | 3.090 | 3.171 |
**Bongaigaon Oil Refinery Expansion:** The Union Government is not currently considering enhancing the capacity of the Bongaigaon Oil Refinery in Assam to 5.0 MMTPA.
Key Entities Referenced
NorthEast Region of India: A geographical region in India, specifically mentioned in the context of oil exploration and production activities.
Petroleum and Natural Gas: The ministry responsible for the policy and regulation of the petroleum and natural gas sector in India.
Petroleum Resources Management System: A classification framework for petroleum reserves and resources.
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons: A regulatory body in India responsible for overseeing upstream oil and gas activities.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited: A major oil and gas exploration and production company in India.
Oil India Limited: An oil and gas exploration and production company in India, specifically operating in the North East region.
Bongaigaon Oil Refinery in Assam: An oil refinery located in Assam, India.
Assam: A state in the North East Region of India, location of Bongaigaon Oil Refinery.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3022
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07th August, 2025
EXPLORATION AND PRODUTION ACTIVITIES OF OIL COMPANIES IN
NORTH-EAST REGION
†3022. Shri Dilip Saikia:
Shri Dineshbhai Makwana:
Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato:
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ी
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of estimated petroleum reserves in the North-East Region of India;
(b) the major recent developments in exploration and production activities in the said
region;
(c) the quantity of crude oil and natural gas produced by ONGC and Oil India Limited in
this region during the last three years; and
(d) whether the Union Government is considering enhancing the capacity of the
Bongaigaon Oil Refinery in Assam to 5.0 MMTPA and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ालय म(cid:336) रा(cid:475)मं(cid:361)ी
((cid:373)ी सुरेश गोपी)
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a): As per Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS), as on 01.04.2025, the
estimated petroleum reserves and resources in North-East Region is 150.15 Million Metric
Tons (MMT) for Crude Oil and 198.25 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) for Natural Gas.
(b): During last three years (since FY 2022-23 to Q1 of FY 2025-26) a total of 2,753 Line
Kilometer of 2D seismic data and 1,758 Square Kilometer of 3D seismic data have been
acquired and 115 exploratory wells have been drilled in the region. Further, 11 Notices of
Discovery (NOD) have been submitted by operators to Directorate General of Hydrocarbons
(DGH) and 07 discoveries have been monetized in the region during the aforementioned
period.
The Exploration and Production efforts in North Eastern region have led to a total production
of 13.131 MMT of crude oil and 15.158 BCM of natural gas over last three years.
(c): The quantity of Crude Oil and Natural Gas produced by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Limited (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) in the north eastern region during the last three
years is as under:Oil Crude Oil (Million Metric Tonne) Natural Gas (Billion Cubic Meter)
Companies 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
ONGC 1.009 1.046 1.051 2.030 1.859 1.563
OIL 3.159 3.334 3.425 3.041 3.090 3.171
(d) There is no such proposal presently under consideration of Government.
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