Oil India Limited (OIL) initiated an aerial survey in early 2023 to assess seismic stability in unexplored regions from Arunachal Pradesh to Kashmir, with the aim of discovering untapped oil and gas reserves across northeastern, southern, central, and northern India.
Oil India Limited (OIL), the National Center for Seismology (NCS) operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CES & HS) under the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, have entered into a collaborative partnership to conduct applied earth science studies, focusing particularly on Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast Region. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed on February 25, 2024, in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
The MoU establishes a formal framework for collaboration, with the goal of advancing applied seismo-geophysical and geological research and exploring and harnessing Geothermal Energy. This collaboration aims to foster innovation and excellence in various aspects of earth sciences studies.
In June 2023, Oil India Limited (OIL) launched an aerial survey to assess seismic stability in challenging and previously unexplored areas for prospecting purposes. This survey encompassed regions ranging from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland to Bastar and Kashmir. Directed by the Director General of Hydrocarbons, OIL has been entrusted with the exploration of oil and gas reserves in “unexplored areas” across northeastern, southern, central, and northern India. These areas include Nagaland, Manipur, southern Mizoram, the North Cachar Hills of Assam, parts of Arunachal Pradesh, the Cauvery basin, Bastar, Satpura, Spiti-Zanskar, and Karewa.
Seismic surveys employs reflected sound waves to produce a scan of the Earth’s subsurface and are primarily utilised for oil and gas exploration, although they can also aid in locating groundwater and assessing earthquake risk.
The signing ceremony for the MoU was attended by Union Minister of Earth Sciences (MoES) Shri Kiren Rijiju, Ministers of Legislative Assembly from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh (GoAP), senior officials from the state government and Oil India Ltd. (OIL), and other senior officials from the ministries.
