Government-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, the country's largest petro exploration company, wants to hire an ultra deep-sea drill rig, the daily cost of which is about Rs 5 crore.
CAG, in a report tabled in Parliament today, said Oil and Natural Gas Corporation hired rig 'Actinia' from RIL for six months in 2009 for Rs 146.71 crore (Rs 1.46 billion) saying it needed urgently drill three wells but its actual usage indicated the hiring was 'not necessary'.
Post-cessation, activities related to the safe shutdown of the field are underway.
Government has put on auction the gas discovery area it snatched from Reliance Industries in KG-D6 block and the field that Cairn India is seeking to regain around its Rajasthan block.