AGARTALA, June 1 (TIWN): With an aim to set up first of its kind in the Left ruled Tripura Rs 5,000-crore urea plant at Khobal in Unakoti district, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) Asset, had successfully carried hydro-fracturing at Khubal in Unakoti district to know the actual gas reserve. Talking to TIWN on Monday ONGC Director Onshore V. P. Mahawar informed that so far the ONGC Tripura Asset had carried hydro-fracturing in at least three places at Khubal. Mahawar said, “The hydro-fracturing had been conducted on three old wells at the area while the ONGC is looking forward to drill another two well at Manu area to ensure gas reserves.” ONGC would now start the activation process at the three hydro-fractured wells at Khubal to ensure enough quality gas which would be piped to the urea plant once it is set up, said Mahawar. Asked about the potentiality target, Mahawar said, “ONGC targets its potentitaliaty of at least 2.3 Metric Ton of gas but the urea plant would be set up with a potentiality of around 1.3 MT of gas.” Adding to that he also said that ONGC would have to ensure availability of gas for the plant for at least 15 years. It is worthy to mention here that the Tripura unit of ONGC has intensified exploration to create a recoverable reserve of gas for at least 15 years. “We have intensified our exploration drive in Tripura to create a huge recoverable reserve of gas to continue the supply to the existing power plants in Tripura along with others coming up soon,” official said.

“By one year ONGC would be able to know the actual gas reserve at Khubal which would be later piped to the Urea Plant,” Mahawar said to TIWN on Monday.

Mahawar said, “If the gas reserve is good, then the fertilizer manufacturing plant would certainly gain the ground”, he said.

 With 800 acres of land allotted to set up a Rs. 5000-crore Urea fertiliser plant at Khobal in Unakoti district of Tripura, ONGC is keeping eye to set up the project soon as it has already undertaken hydro fracturing at Khubal and it has been successful so far.

To develop the productivity, ONGC has brought most advanced  hydro-fracturing technology, used for breaking the sand layer deep inside the surface of the earth to facilitate better flow of gas, he said. The ONGC which started exploration in the state since 1972 has drilled 176 wells of which 82 are gas bearing wells.

The highest rate of success in exploration has convinced the authorities to make commitment to supply 36 lakh cubic meters of gas to 726-MW Palatana power project for 20 years and five lakh cubic metres to Monarchak power plant.