Fifty years ago | Sri Lanka offers supply base facility to ONGC

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New Delhi, October 4: The Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Petroleum Corporation is understood to have offered to provide facilities to the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) for a supply base at the Trincomalee port in Sri Lanka for the latter’s off-shore exploration in the Cauvery basin. The ONGC, which has greatly appreciated the offer will be deputing a team to Sri Lanka to examine and discuss the proposal further.

The Trincomalee port has got a good draft of about 70 feet and will be very suited for the berthing of supply boats that will be required for the transportation of heavy equipment once the off-shore exploration in the Cauvery basin gathers momentum. The Canadian company, Asamera of Calgherry, has completed its seismic surveys in the Cauvery basin and the selection of suitable drilling sites will be decided upon shortly.

Sri Lanka, which has been engaged in off-shore exploration on its side of the meridian line has already shown considerable interest in the exchange of data with the ONGC. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had earlier signed contracts with two U.S. companies, Ceyoil Corporation, a subsidiary of Pexamin pacific Inc, and Marathon Petroleum Corporation Ltd which have already drilled a few exploratory wells. The data being exchanged between the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the ONGC are expected to provide a complete picture of the encouraging oil prospects in the area. The facilities that will be available at the Trincomalee port for the ONGC in addition to the base in the Madras harbour, will ensure greater cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in off-shore exploration.

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