Lucknow: A major crude oil reserve has been discovered in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia on land owned by freedom fighter Chittu Pandey’s family.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) confirmed the presence of crude oil in Ballia following a three-month survey.
ONGC has leased six-and-a-half acres from the Pandey family for three years, offering a rent of Rs 10 lakh annually. As per the agreement, there is an option to extend the lease for one more year.
ONGC officials said that drilling must reach a depth of 3,001 meters to access the crude oil reserves. The excavation process, requiring 25,000 litres of water daily, is progressing swiftly and is expected to conclude by the end of April.
If the exploration yields commercially viable results, ONGC plans to drill additional wells at other identified locations in the Ganga basin. This discovery has the potential to transform the region’s economy by increasing land value and providing financial benefits to local farmers.
Neel Pandey, a descendant of Chittu Pandey, emphasised that if significant oil reserves are found, ONGC may acquire more land at premium prices, further boosting the financial prospects of local landowners.
The drilling operation, the first of its kind in Ballia, marks a significant step in Uttar Pradesh’s fuel resource exploration. ONGC has obtained environmental clearance to conduct drilling over a 302 square kilometre block, with its exploration licence valid until April 2026.
The corporation has invested Rs 85 crore in the initial well, which is being drilled in Sagarpali village, between NH-31 and Ganga river. This location is near Vaina Rattu Chak, the ancestral home of Chittu Pandey, who was a key figure in the Quit India Movement.
The drilling process is expected to take five to six months. If hydrocarbon indications are found, further testing will be carried out through perforation in the production casing, a process that typically takes seven to ten days. Should the well confirm the presence of commercially viable hydrocarbons, it will be sealed for future development, paving the way for potential large-scale oil extraction in the region.
India’s crude oil reserves were estimated at approximately 587.335 million metric tonnes as of April 2021, with the western offshore region, Assam, and Gujarat holding the largest shares.
The Ballia discovery adds to the country’s ongoing hydrocarbon exploration efforts, offering potential long-term benefits for energy production and economic growth. If successful, this could establish Ballia as a key player in India’s oil sector, contributing significantly to the region’s development and the nation’s energy security.
