ONGC Crude Oil Production Commences in West Bengal's Ashoknagar Field
On September 21, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya marked a significant moment for the state with the commencement of crude oil production at ONGC's Ashoknagar field in North 24 Parganas district. The field is located about 48 km from Kolkata.
Bhattacharya, who has pursued this project for four years by raising the issue in Parliament and following up with the Petroleum Ministry and ONGC, visited the oilfield at Baigachhi in Ashoknagar and witnessed crude oil being extracted. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and ONGC officials for their efforts.
The project is expected to contribute significantly to India's energy security and aligns with the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. According to ONGC, the first commercial hydrocarbon discovery in the Bengal Basin at Ashoknagar has moved closer to monetization. The oil major had successfully established the flow potential of light, high-quality crude oil just three months after spudding the development well AS-1Z on May 30.
With this development, West Bengal is set to feature prominently on India's hydrocarbon map. Bhattacharya emphasized that the project would not only boost investment and create employment opportunities but also provide new business opportunities in the Ashoknagar area.