RIL projects D1, D3 fields output fall by 13%

Reliance Industries has projected 13 per cent drop in output from the nation's biggest gas fields in the KG-D6 basin to 38 million standard cubic meters per day in 2012-13.

In its annual work program submitted to upstream oil regulator Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Reliance stated that natural gas output from Dhirubhai-1 and 3 or D1 and D3 gas fields in the block KG-DWN-98/3 or KG-D6, will be about 38 mmscmd in 2012-13 from current production level of 43-44 mmscmd.

Upto 9 mmscmd will come from D-26 or MA oil field in the same block, taking the total output from the deep-sea area in Bay of Bengal to around 47 mmscmd.

At present, KG-D6 block is producing around 51-52 mmscmd.

Officials with direct knowledge of the development said Reliance has projected maintaining the current production levels during 2011-12

fiscal.

A Reliance spokesperson, however, did not offer any comments.

Reliance at present sells 14 mmscmd of gas from KG-D6 to fertiliser plants, 24 mmscmd to power plants and the remaining 13 mmscmd to other sectors like sponge iron plants, LPG, city gas distribution, petrochemical plants and refineries.

Officials said the company has projected crude oil output from the MA field in the same block to fall to 12,050 barrels per day from about 17,000 bpd current production.

RIL shares were trading 3.54 per cent dwon at Rs 994.95 a piece on Bombay Stock Exchange at noon.