Domestic production of crude oil and natural gas fell for the second successive month in April by 2.27 per cent and 6.83 per cent, respectively, as per the data released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Crude oil production stood at 2.956 million tonnes against 3.025 million tonnes in the same month last year.

ONGC’s production was 0.76 per cent lower at 1.801 million tonnes (1.815 million tonnes). Production from private and joint venture fields was 3.81 per cent lower at 0.893 million tonnes.

Cairn India’s Rajasthan fields had a 1.67 per cent fall in production during the month at 0.692 million tonnes.

Domestic natural gas production during April stood at 2.488 billion cubic metres compared with 2.670 billion cubic metres in the same month last year.

ONGC’s natural gas production was 8.49 per cent lower at 1.630 billion cubic metres.

Its overall natural gas production was significantly impacted by the 10.8 per cent fall from its offshore production which stood at 1.238 billion cubic metres for the month.

The fall in production resulted in higher imports of crude oil. According to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, in April, India imported 15.6 per cent more crude oil at 17.96 million tonnes against 15.53 million tonnes in the same month last year.

However, weaker oil prices meant the crude oil import bill was 24 per cent lower at $4.74 billion compared with $6.24 billion in the same month last year.

The crude throughput at domestic refineries grew 17.95 per cent in April and stood at 20.155 million tonnes (17.088 million tonnes).

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