ITANAGAR, Jan 27: The state government has granted another 10 years’ extension of the petroleum mining lease (PML) for the Kharsang oilfield, which covers an area of 9.94 sq kms in Changlang district, to the consortium of lessees comprising Oil India Limited, Geopetrol International Inc, JEKPL Private Ltd, and GeoEnpro Petroleum Ltd.
As per a previous consensus, GeoEnpro is the actual operator of the Kharsang oilfield.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu handed over the official extension permissions to GeoEnpro chief executive officer Ajay Kumar Ray and representatives of the other partners in the consortium, here on Monday.
The lease period had expired on 15 June, 2015.
Khandu assured GeoEnpro of all administrative and logistic support in enhancing production from the oilfield. He said the state government is committed to enhance its revenue generation capability “and the state’s abundant natural resources are one way out.”
“Please be in touch with the state government in implementing your CSR activities for the welfare and benefit of the local people,” he said.
Ray on his part expressed confidence that oil production would increase in the coming years and earn enhanced revenue for the state in the form of royalty.
He gave assurance that the company would “further its CSR activities in sectors advised by the state government in future.”
At present, the Kharsang oilfield has 70 wells, of which 29 are oil-producing while 27 wells have been shut down. Another 10 are gas wells, and the other four are abandoned. The crude oil production at the moment stands at 105 kls per day.
The oilfield has full-fledged production facilities. Oil is transported by tanker trucks to Digboi in Assam, which is 63 kms away. (CM’s PR Cell)
