[INDIA] Natural gas production to jump two-fold by 2011-2012

India's natural gas production will more than double to 170 million standard cubic meters per day by 2011-12 after fields such as Reliance Industries' eastern offshore KG-D6 reach peak output.

In 2007-08, domestic production at 79.40 mmscmd and 31.50 mmscmd from import LNG met some 60 per cent of the demand, according to latest projections made by the Petroleum Ministry.

State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) will produce 47.06 mmscmd of gas this fiscal, almost unchanged from 47.19 mmscmd of 2007-08. This output will rise to 51.65 mmscmd by 2011-12, while Oil India Ltd will contribute 10 mmscmd.

Reliance Industries' KG-D6 will start producing this year at an initial rate of 40 mmscmd, rising to 60 mmscmd in 2009-10 and to 80 mmscmd in 2011-12. When KG-D6 hits peak, the share of fuel produced by fields operated by private sector firms would touch 102.57 mmscmd (in 2011-12).

The projections anticipate an additional 2 mmscmd output from Mahanadi basin NEC-25 field of Reliance in 2011-12 and 4.5 mmscmd from Gujarat State Petroleum Corp's Krishna Godavari basin field.

India's import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is also slated to more than double to 23.25 million tons by 2011-12 from 9 million tons in 2007-08 after Dabhol, Kochi and Mangalore terminals become operational.

Petronet LNG's Dahej terminal will see capacity doubling to almost 12 million tons and Shell's Hazira terminal is seen operating at 2.5 million tons, unchanged from present times. Dabhol may import 5 million tons, Kochi 2.5 and Mangalore 1.25 million tons, the projections stated.

Together with 81.38 mmscmd of LNG, the country's total gas availability will touch 252.09 mmscmd in 2011-12 from 110.9 mmscmd now.

Source: India Economic Times

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