The Rajasthan government is concerned about the recent decline in crude oil production and has urged oil-producing companies to utilize advanced technologies to increase output. Additional Chief Secretary Aparna Arora emphasized the importance of refining more crude oil within the state to enhance value addition and stimulate economic growth. Efforts are underway to develop a comprehensive plan focusing on advanced technologies and expanded exploration to raise crude oil and natural gas production in Rajasthan.
Chairing a meeting with senior officials, Arora highlighted the need to leverage globally proven technologies to boost production levels. Rajasthan currently ranks second in onshore natural gas production and third in crude oil production nationwide. The state has the capacity to process approximately 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil produced within its borders.
Arora stressed the necessity for oil and gas companies to adopt the latest technologies to reverse the declining trend in crude oil production. She suggested a dual strategy of accelerating exploration in new areas while enhancing production from existing fields through advanced recovery methods. The state aims for sustained growth in production through a long-term action plan.
Rajasthan boasts four major crude oil and natural gas basins, with ongoing exploration and production activities in the Jaisalmer, Barmer-Sanchore, and Bikaner-Nagaur basins. The state has granted 12 petroleum mining leases and 12 petroleum exploration licenses. Currently, Rajasthan produces around 54,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 2.2 million standard cubic meters of natural gas per day.
Representatives from Cairn India, ONGC, Oil India Limited, and Focus Energy presented detailed reports on the exploration and production activities. The meeting, attended by various officials and company representatives, focused on the importance of deploying advanced technologies to maximize production efficiency.
