January 30, 2015: The production Sharing Contract (PSC) model under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) has certain problem areas. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has been making efforts to identify these problems. Click Column IOG Exclusive for its assessment.

January 29, 2015: The estimated cost of National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition-02 Doubles, click Column Gas Scene for details

January 27, 2015: Retail Outlets of Oil Marketing Companies such as IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are set for a massive increase in numbers in the next three years because the Modi government wants fuels to reach every nook and corner of the country. Certainly a noble intention. But what about the quality and quantity of fuels coming out of these pumps? The kickback-based allocation of Retail Outlets by successive political parties in power spoiled the petroleum scene. The investors could not recover their investment from the paltry commission they get from sale of fuels. Most of them have been resorting to adulteration of fuels and short-changing in quantity. The managements of OMCs could not obviously protest. The private players such as RIL and Essar are expected to provide quality fuels, but their market presence will remain negligible. Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi try to clean up the system? Click Our Free Access Column Petro Intelligence .

Eminent geologist Kottilil Narayanan passed away on January 21. Dr Narayanan wrote extensively for www.indianoilandgas.com and correctly predicted on October 10 a price war among international crude producers in a piece in our Guest Column. Maj. General S.C. N. Jatar remembers him.