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Domestic natural gas production fell for the third straight month in February, declining 7.3 per cent year-on-year, while crude oil output during the month rose 12.2 per cent. The domestic refiners (both public and private) processed 3.2 per cent more crude oil in February against the same month previous year.
The natural gas output fell to 3.907 billion cubic metre (4.216 billion cubic metre), according to data released by the Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas. This drop was because Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) continued to produce less from its East Coast gas-fields due to reservoir problems. RIL operated its D6 field, one of the biggest gas-fields in the country, currently producing about 52 mscmd of gas.
In February, the crude oil production rose to 2.986 million tonne (2.660 mt) as output from the onshore fields, including Cairn India's Rajasthan fields, surged. Output from the onshore fields was up 47.3 per cent year-on-year at 1.377 mt.
Refinery output: Domestic refiners turned 13.357 mt (12.946 mt) of crude into products in February, according to the data. Public sector refiner Indian Oil Corporation's output rose 3.6 per cent to 4.344 mt in February. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation's output increased 6.8 per cent to 1.325 mt.
Private sector refiner Reliance Industries Ltd produced 2.668 mt of fuel in February, reporting a drop of 3.4 per cent year-on-year. Reliance does not share data for its second refinery in Jamnagar, which is in a SEZ.
Capacity utilisation by 17 public sector and two private sector refineries was 112 per cent in February.
Imports/Exports: Domestic refiners imported 10.454 mt of crude oil in February. Officials said the February data of crude oil imports does not include that of Reliance's Jamnagar refinery — this data was available only up to December 2010. Petroleum product imports were at 1.284 mt in February, while exports stood at 1.970 mt.
Consumption: Domestic petroleum products consumption in February rose 3.5 per cent to 11.66 mt (11.269 mt). The consumption estimates represent market demand and is aggregate of sales by oil companies in the domestic market and consumption through direct imports by private parties.
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