HOEC finally cleared for 9 wells
After several twists, HOEC has finally received clearance for its scaled-back development campaign at the producing Asjol and North Balol blocks in Gujarat’s Mehsana district.
Initially, HOEC hoped to drill 26 wells but was forced to amend this to just nine. "The environment ministry recommended our proposal for clearance (on July 31, 2024)," confirms an HOEC source.
In its application submitted on February 2 (2024), HOEC planned four infill and six development wells at Asjol and 16 development wells at North Balol. However, the environment ministry strongly objected because the well sites are near water bodies.
HOEC was forced to drop 23 proposed wells and keep just three sites. In Asjol, HOEC dropped ten proposed well locations, and in North Balol, it dropped 13 locations because the sites were only 70-490 metres away from water bodies.
Under the new Rs120cr ($14m) proposal for nine wells cleared by the ministry, HOEC has proposed two new sites in Asjol and four new sites in North Balol. "All six new sites are beyond the 500-metre rule," we hear.
Three old sites are in North Balol. HOEC’s proposal was deferred at meetings on February 15 (2024) and June 13 (2024) because the wells lay near the Balgamda, Dhinoj Palaj, Hathiya, Bhojsar, Katosan and Rudathal lakes in addition to the Narmada Canal and its branches, rivers and creeks.
HOEC submitted an undertaking and a "geo-referenced GPS’ map with photographs of the proposed well locations. "This was to show the absence of water bodies and habitations within 500 metres," we hear.
Operator HOEC (50%) shares the 15-sq km Asjol block with partner GSPC (50%). Similarly, in North Balol, operator HOEC (25%) shares the 27.30-sq km block with GSPC (45%) and GNRL (30%).