**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 74 in Lok Sabha, concerning the potential of petroleum and natural gas reserves in Daman and Diu. It states that the Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study (HRAS) 2017 evaluated the hydrocarbon potential of sedimentary basins, including Mumbai Offshore, Saurashtra and Cambay, encompassing Daman and Diu. The question was slated to be answered on January 29th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study (HRAS) 2017:**
* The government conducted HRAS in 2017.
* The study evaluated hydrocarbon potential in several sedimentary basins.
* Basins assessed include Mumbai Offshore, Saurashtra, and Cambay.
* The assessed area encompasses the Union Territory of Daman and Diu and its surrounding areas.
* **Estimated Hydrocarbon Potential:**
* Mumbai Offshore: 9,646 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent.
* Saurashtra: 1,325 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent.
* Cambay: 2,586 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent.
* **Government Approach and Policies:**
* The Government has adopted a holistic approach to hydrocarbon exploration.
* Policies such as Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) and Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) are in place.
* The Government is promoting integration of regional economies with petroleum and natural gas infrastructure. This includes expansion of pipelines, LNG terminals, refineries, and downstream facilities.
* **Daman and Diu Specifics:**
* No standalone roadmap has been prepared exclusively for Daman and Diu.
* The expansion of oil and gas infrastructure in the western coastal region is expected to support industrial activity, employment generation, and availability of cleaner fuels for industries in Daman and Diu.
**Impact Analysis**
**Industries in Daman and Diu**
* **Impact:** Industries are expected to benefit from the expansion of oil and gas infrastructure in the western coastal region.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required, but industries can anticipate potential support for industrial activity, employment generation, and availability of cleaner fuels.
Key Entities Referenced
Daman and Diu: Union Territory of India, central to the questions about petroleum and natural gas reserves.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The central ministry responsible for addressing the questions related to petroleum and natural gas reserves.
Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study (HRAS): Study conducted to evaluate hydrocarbon potential of various sedimentary basins.
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP): Policy adopted for hydrocarbon exploration and infrastructure development.
Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP): Policy adopted for hydrocarbon exploration and infrastructure development.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 74
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29th January, 2026
Potential of Petroleum and Natural Gas Reserves in Daman and Diu
†74. Shri Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai:
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) whether the Union Government has conducted any assessment or evaluation study to
ascertain the presence or absence of potential petroleum or natural gas reserves in Daman
and Diu and its surrounding areas, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has considered the options for linking petroleum reserves
located along the coastal boundaries of Gujarat and Maharashtra with the local economy of
Daman and Diu, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether any roadmap or blueprint has been prepared by the Government in this
regard, if so, the details thereof and the manner in which this may impact the functioning of
industries located in Daman and Diu?
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) to (c): The Government had conducted the Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study
(HRAS), 2017 to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of various sedimentary basins, including
the sedimentary basins of Mumbai Offshore, Saurashtra and Cambay encompassing the
Union Territory of Daman and Diu and its surrounding areas. The offshore area adjoining
Daman and Diu forms part of the Mumbai Offshore Basin and Saurashtra Basin with Cambay
Basin in close proximity. The estimated in place Hydrocarbon potential as per HRAS 2017 is
as follows:
Basin Estimated In place
(Million Metric Tonnes of Oil Equivalent)
Mumbai Offshore 9,646
Saurashtra 1,325
Cambay 2,586
The Government has adopted a holistic and basin-level approach for hydrocarbon exploration
and infrastructure development under policies such as the Hydrocarbon Exploration and
Licensing Policy (HELP) and the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP). The
Government has been promoting integration of regional economies with petroleum and
natural gas infrastructure through the expansion of pipelines, LNG terminals, refineries, and
downstream facilities in the country, including along the coasts of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
While no standalone roadmap has been prepared exclusively for Daman and Diu, ongoing
continuous process of expansion of oil and gas infrastructure in the western coastal region is
expected to support industrial activity, employment generation, and availability of cleaner
fuels for industries located in the region.
*****