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India to Build Deep-Sea Gas Pipeline from Oman to Gujarat

Overview

India is planning a new natural gas pipeline from Oman to Gujarat. The pipeline will start at Ras Al Jifan in Oman and end at Porbandar in Gujarat. It will run deep under the Arabian Sea. The total length will be about 1,600 to 2,000 km. The deepest point will be around 3,450 metres.


Pipeline Route and Capacity

The pipeline will carry  31 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd)  of natural gas. The route connects Oman directly to India’s west coast. This will help India depend less on gas shipments by ship.

The path goes through:

  • Arabian Sea

  • Owen Fracture Zone (a tectonic boundary under water)

  • Indus Fan (a large deep-sea sediment area)


Project Cost and Technical Features

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 40,000 crore to Rs43,000 crore  (about 4.7 to 6 billion US dollars). This is a deep-water pipeline project. It must work at extreme seabed depths and over very long distances under the sea.


Institutions and Feasibility Work

Three state-run companies will prepare the Detailed Feasibility Report:

  • GAIL (India) Ltd

  • Indian Oil Corporation

  • Engineers India Ltd

The South Asia Gas Enterprise has already done a physical test. They laid a test pipeline of about 3,000 metres along part of the route. This test cost around ?25 crore. It helped check seabed conditions and high-pressure pipe-laying methods.


Energy Security Context

India currently uses about  190 to 195 mmscmd  of natural gas at home. By 2030, the demand is expected to rise to  290 to 300 mmscmd .

This pipeline is part of a bigger plan to get gas from:

  • Oman

  • United Arab Emirates

  • Saudi Arabia

  • Qatar

  • Turkmenistan

India imports a large share of its crude oil. Pipelines like this help make India’s energy supply more secure.


Exam-Focused Points 

  1. Pipeline from  Ras Al Jifan (Oman)  to  Porbandar (Gujarat) .

  2. Length:  1,600–2,000 km ; maximum depth:  3,450 metres .

  3. Capacity:  31 mmscmd  of natural gas.

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