Natural gas production during September 2021 was 2902.4 MMSCM, which is 26.6% higher than the production of September 2020 but 8.48% lower than the monthly target. Cumulative natural gas production during April-September2021 was 16890.9 MMSCM, which is 26.6% higher than production during corresponding period of last year but 6.7% lower when compared with target for the period. Unit-wise and state-wise natural gas production is given at Annexure-II. Unit-wise natural gas production for the month of September 2021 and cumulatively for April-September 2021 vis-à-vis same period of last year has been shown in Table-2 and month-wise in Figure-2.

Figure-2: Monthly Natural Gas Production

1. 1. Natural gas production by ONGC in the nomination blocks during September 2021 was 1730 MMSCM, which is 10.6% lower than target for the month and 2.9% lowerthan the production of September 2020. Cumulative natural gas production by ONGC during April-September, 2021 was 10256.2 MMSCM, which is 11.1% and 6.6% lower than target for the period and production during corresponding period of last year respectively. Reasons for shortfall in production are as under:

• Less than anticipated production from WO-16 cluster due to delay in mobilization of MOPU Sagar Samrat.
• Less than planned production from few wells due to certain reservoir related issues.
• Delay in commencement of gas production from U1 field of KG-98/2 Cluster-II due to COVID-19 impact as manufacturing of subsea items and well completion got delayed.
• Less production due to decline in Tapti-Daman block.
• Less than envisaged production from Dahej&Gandhar field in Ankleshwar.

1. 2. Natural gas production by OIL in the nomination block during September 2021 was 254.1 MMSCMwhich is 4.59% higher than target for the month and 26.6% higherthan the production of September 2020. Cumulative natural gas production by OIL during April-September2021 was 1434.3 MMSCM, which is 15.5% higher than production during corresponding period of last year but 2.9% lower than target for the period. Reasons for shortfall in production are as under:

• Low upliftment/demand of gas by the major customers.
• Less than planned contribution from drilling wells /old wells.

1. 3. Natural gas production by Pvt/JVs companies in the PSC/RSC/CBM regime during September 2021 was 918.2 MMSCM, which is 195.9% higher than the production of September 2020 but 7.6% lower than the target for the month. Cumulative natural gas production by Pvt/JVs during April-September 2021 was 5200.4MMSCM, which is 1.9% and 200.1% higher than target for the period and production during corresponding period of last year respectively.Increase in gas production is through contributions from D-34 field of KG-DWN-98/3 where production commenced on 18.12.2020 andsatellite cluster where production commenced on 25.04.2021.Reasons for shortfall in production are as under:

• KG-DWN-98/2 (ONGC): Delay in commissioning of U1-A well. U1-2 (U1-B) well remained closed due to operation constraints and reservoir study.
• RJ-ON-90/1 (Cairn Energy India Ltd): Shortfall due to Planned Shutdown & Plant Trips.
• RANIGANJ EAST (Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Ltd.): Shortfall on account of delay in scheduled operations due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• RJ-ON/6 (Focus Energy Ltd.): Less offtake by power plant. Some wells production got affected on account of stoppage of supplies due to tripping by the single customer of state power plant.
• MB/OSDSF/B80/2016 (Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Ltd.): Delay in commencement of production.