Reliance Industries (RIL) today put forward a proposal of joint studies before the hiring of an international expert to decide if its wells on KG-D6 block were drawing gas from neighbouring fields of ONGC.

On march 28, Reliance Industries (RIL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) reached an agreement over the appointment of a neutral international expert to decide if four wells drilled on boundary of KG-D6 block were drawing gas from the wells of the state-owned firm.

The two sides decided to exchange list of international experts on April 15 but it seems that Reliance does not want to resolve this issue quickly as it has now proposed the idea of setting up a joint technical team to do more studies before seeking third party help.

ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Dinesh K Sarraf is yet to comment on this proposal but a source close to the company said RIL proposal was "nothing but delaying tactics".

A RIL spokesperson said, "We are engaged in constructive dialogue with ONGC on all matters. The last meeting on the afore-mentioned subject was held just last month."

"Given the geological complexities involved, the matter on hand can perhaps be settled by a third-party expert. We are awaiting the appointment of such an expert and we are confident that the matter will be expeditiously resolved to mutual satisfaction," he added.