12-02-09 Public sector giant Oil and Natural Gas Commission's (ONGC) Cauvery Asset, engaged in exploration activities along the Cauvery basin, has achieved an all time high oil and gas production in the current year, according to a top company official.
"In the first nine months of 2008-09, we exceeded the annual target in all spheres. Till December 31 2008, 2.028 lakh tons of oil was produced against the target of 2.01 lakh tons. Gas production stood at 939 mm cm against the targeted 859 mm cm.

This was followed by an increase in sales of gas at 929 mm cm, against the targeted 845 mm cm, K.K. Anjaneyalu, Group General Manager of Cauvery Asset said.
The intricate geographical processes taking place under the sands of the Cauvery basin have made it the "home of hydrocarbons" in South India. The basin covers an area of 27,850 sq km and extends from Puducherry in the north to Ramnad in the south, Thanjavur in the west and Karaikal in the east.

In addition to achievements in traditional oil exploration, Cauvery Asset has also excelled in technological innovation. In May 2008, they launched India's first pilot plant to extract helium from natural gas at Kuthalam in Nagapattinam district, with technical aid from Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and the department of Science and Technology.
Anjanayelu said the pilot plant at Kuthalam could play an important role in ensuring the nation's energy security. Once successful, ONGC would invest more for commercial production, he said.

"A gas of strategic importance, helium is used in many applications, including space technology, cryogenics and atomic reactors. Global supply of helium is fast depleting and imbalance between supply and demand is growing at an alarming rate. The entire requirement of helium (around 1.80 lakh cm per annum) in India is now met through imports. This imbalance will grow into a big crisis in future. In such a situation, India will be in a disadvantageous position," he said.
He pointed out that though natural gas is being produced from many wells in the country, gas collected from Kuthalam has significantly higher helium content at 0.05 %.

For this technological innovation, Cauvery Asset was conferred the Golden Peacock innovative product service award 2008 by the 19th world Congress on total quality at Mumbai in January this year, Anjanayelu said. He said the organisation, apart from triggering industrial activity in the operational area, has made significant contributions to develop utility infrastructure as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, building and mending bridges, roads, schools and hospitals.
A sizeable amount has been earmarked under CSR for SC/ST communities and the physically challenged, he added.