The country’s natural gas production dropped nearly 15 per cent in September as Reliance Industries eastern offshore KG-D6 field continue to decline.
Gas production at 3.36 billion cubic meters in September was 14.8 per cent lower than 3.95 bcm a year ago, according to latest data released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas here on Thursday.
Fields operated by private firms like RIL saw a massive 34.3 per cent drop in output to 1.15 bcm, it said but did not give field-wise data.
“Total six well in Dhirubhai-1 & 3 gas field (in KG-D6 block) and two in MA oil and gas field (in the same area) have ceased to flow due to water/sand ingress,” the data said listing reasons for lower output.
India’s crude oil production dropped 1.7 per cent to 3.06 million tonnes in September with state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) reporting a 7.8 per cent decline in Mumbai High output at 1.24 million tonnes.
Mumbai High output was lower because of “less than anticipated oil gain from development wells” as well as “less than anticipated oil gain from Vasai East field,” the data said.
During April-September, natural gas production was down 12.5 per cent at 21.35 bcm while crude oil output was marginally lower at 19.08 million tonnes as compared to 19.22 million tonnes a year ago.
The nation’s 20 refineries produced 14.13 million tonnes of fuel in September, up 11.4 per cent from 12.68 million tonnes a year ago. Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refineries reported a 3.9 per cent rise in output at 3.04 million tonnes while Essar Oil saw production more than double to 1.68 million tonnes.
RIL and Essar refineries operated at 109.1 per cent and 108 per cent of their installed capacities.
During April-September, refinery throughput was up 5.4 per cent at 88.17 million tonnes.