ONGC, RIL look for expert to resolve gas issue

State-owned oil giant ONGC and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are reportedly trying to reach a consensus over the appointment of a mutually acceptable international expert to resolve the dispute over their Krishna Godavari basin gas fields.

ONGC claims that RIL is drawing out gas from its field in the KG basin through three wells which the company has drilled on the boundary of the adjoining KG- D6 block off the Andhra coast. Accordin The RIL, however, has rejected the ONGC's allegations.

A senior oil ministry official said that the ONGC and RIL have agreed to hold talks over their list of preferred consultants and finalize an expert who can resolve this issue.

Earlier, RIL was asked by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon ( DGH to share data on the gas reservoir on its side of the block as well as production flows with ONGC. It also asked ONGC to share data based on which it claimed that RIL's wells - D6- A5, D6- A9 and D6- B8 in KG- D6 block- may be drawing gas from its G4- 2, G4- 3 and D- 1 gas pools.

ONGC officials believe that gas discoveries in its nomination block G4 ( Godavari PML) and Block KG- DWN- 98/ 2 ( KG- D5) extends into RIL's KG- DWN- 98/ 3 or KG- D6 block.