Part of RJ-ON-90/1 to be offered in CBM round
Cairn Energy will be disappointed to hear that the DGH is planning to auction part of its RJ-ON-90/1 block in Rajasthan as coal bed methane acreage in the next CBM round.
In June last year, the DGH approved Cairns request for an 18-month extension of the exploration programme over 2884-sq km in the north and western parts of the 11,400-sq km block for appraisal of discoveries. But DGH officials refused to grant an extension over a 1958-sq km portion located in the south of the block, saying no discovery had been made there.
This area - comprising two parts measuring 1196-sq km and 739-sq km - will be offered to bidders in the imminent CBM rounds. More than likely the two parts will be offered as separate blocks, we hear.
India is planning simultaneous licensing rounds for nine CBM blocks and 55 blocks under NELP-VI. To see the full list of the CBM blocks on offer click: http://dghindia.org/map_cbm.htm.