Parliament Question: Findings of ONGC exploration in Ganga Basin area of ??Bihar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2697 ANSWERED ON -16/03/2026 FINDINGS OF ONGC EXPLORATION IN GANGA BASIN AREA OF BIHAR 2697 # SHRI SANJAY YADAV: Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: (a) the key findings of the exploration carried out so far by ONGC regarding potential natural gas and petroleum reserves in the Ganga Basin area of Samastipur, Patna, Bhagalpur and Buxar districts of the State of Bihar and the current progress in this direction; (b) whether any geological or other technical survey has been conducted by ONGC in Samastipur and Buxar; and (c) if so, the key findings of the surveys and the proposed plan of action based on them? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI) (a) to (c): ONGC presently holds OALP block namely GV-ONHP-2021/1 (308.32 Sq. Km) in Samastipur District and part area (52.13 Sq. Km) of OALP block GV-ONHP-2021/2 in Buxar District of Bihar (remaining area 250.44 Sq. Km of the block GV-ONHP-2021/2 falls in adjoining Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh). ONGC has acquired 352.18 SKM of 3D seismic data including 300.05 SKM of 3D data in GV- ONHP-2021/1 in Samastipur district and 52.13 SKM of 3D data in GV-ONHP-2021/2 block in Buxar district in the State of Bihar. In addition, approx. 650 samples have been collected from these districts for Geochemical studies. Based on the seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation (API) results, ONGC has identified two exploratory locations in OALP block GV-ONHP-2021/1 in Samastipur district of Bihar. *****