During visit to Sudan, Director (Operations) of ONGC Videsh Limited, Mr. P.K. Rao steered a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, under the aegis of ONGC Nile Ganga BV (ONGBV) i.e. organization of a free medical camp on 21^st November 2015.

The free medical camp has been organized at Elhala Eljadida area, under the guidance of Commissioner of Ombadda, Khartoum.

Warm Welcome to Director (Operations) by Commissioner of Ombadda and State authorities, Khartoum, Sudan

This medical camp was inaugurated by Director (Operations), ONGC Videsh, which was attended by all ONGBV expats and various state authorities such as Mr. Abdel Eltif Abdalla Fedaili, Commissioner of Ombadda, Mr. Elbasha, Manager of Social Welfare, Ombadda, Mr. Atif Hassan, Manager of Education, Ombadda and hundreds of local people.

Director (Operations), addressing the gathering at the Medical Camp

On request of ONGBV, seven local doctors, including one from ONGBV and seven paramedical staff participated in above medical camp. The Commissioner of Omdurman thanked Director (Operations) and the Country Manager, ONGBV for extending such welfare services to local communities in Sudan. Around 1100 patients got benefit from the said medical camp making the CSR initiative a huge success.

Director (Operations), reviewing the facilities at Medical Camp

Distribution of medicines to beneficiaries by Director (Operations), at the Camp

Indian, Russian and Vietnamese investors of Block 06.1 Offshore Gas Project in Vietnam celebrated in Hanoi recently the production landmark of 300 million barrels of oil equivalent. Another milestone was 13 years of safely operating Block 06.1, during which more than 29 million safe man-hours were achieved.

On this occasion, ONGC Videsh Ltd., the largest stakeholder in Block 06.1, was awarded Prime Minister’s Merit Certificate in recognition of its contribution to the development of hydrocarbon industry in Vietnam and 13 years of safe operations.

The ONGC Videsh team consisting of  Mr. Ajeet Kumar Deshwal, Regional President, Asia Pacific, Mr Tapas Kumar Mandal, Country Manger and Mr N K Gupta, Manager (HR) received the award on behalf of ONGC Videsh Limited.

Addressing the ceremony, HE Mr. Cao Quoc Hung, Vice Minister Industry & Trade, Socialist Republic of Vietnam appreciated the valuable contribution to the gas industry of Vietnam by Block 06.1 investors – ONGC Videsh Ltd. Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), and Rosneft Oil Company in the Operator role.

“The gas production from Block 06.1 served as a feedstock for about 12% of the electricity generation of this country in 2015, in addition to the efforts towards the development of community in the region”, said Mr. Ajeet Kumar Deshwal, Regional President – Asia Pacific of ONGC Videsh Ltd. He also shared that the successful journey of ONGC Videsh in the E&P sector practically began with the discovery in Block 06.1 offshore Vietnam, this being one of the initial successes. He also brought out the fact that MD, ONGC Videsh Limited ,Mr Narendra K. Verma was a well site geologist while drilling were carried out in Blcok06.01 during early 90’s indicating the emotional and historical bonding of ONGC Videsh Limited with Block 06.01.

ONGC Videsh’s presence in Vietnam dates back to 1985, when it signed a technical assistance contract with Petrovietnam. Thereafter Exploration License was awarded for Block 06.1 and Production Sharing Contract was signed in 1988 with 100% Participating Interest(PI). Presently, ONGC Videsh is a partner with largest PI of 45%, along with Rosneft as the Operator and Petrovietnam.

ONGC Videsh, as one of the first entrants in the oil and gas industry of Vietnam, has contributed in a big way for the development of this industry in Vietnam. After acquiring the Exploration License of Block 06.1 in 1988, ONGC Videsh has made a cumulative investment of USD 423.7 million as of 30^th June 2015.

Block 06.1, where ONGC Videsh is the largest stakeholder, consists of the Lan Tay and Lan Do natural gas fields, 370km offshore southeast of Ba Ria Vung Tau Province, Vietnam and fuels approximately 12% of Vietnam’s electricity generation.

Block 06.1 investors are ONGC Videsh Ltd. with largest stake of 45%, Rosneft Vietnam with stake of 35% and PetroVietnam with the remaining 20%.

The second Enterprise Risk assessment for five functional groups and preparation of ERM manual was carried out from 23-27 Novemebr 2015 at Tomsk by a HQ team comprising Mr. Shambhu Nath Gupta, DGM(D) and Mr. Bimlesh Kumar Singh under the guidance of Mr. Arun Mittal, DGM(D)-CRO , ONGC Videsh with overwhelming support, participation & co-operation of entire Imperial Energy team.

This was a follow-up to the Risk management Committee’s decision in Sept 2015. The ERM system was initially rolled out in March 2014 and risk assessment carried out in line with ISO 31000: 2009 and an  independent ERM structure , Policy & Risk register for five functional groups were established in May the same year. The detailed risk identification and assessment exercise were performed for each functional group namely Production, Drilling, Exploration & development, Finance and Legal departments  with involvement of all Risk owners, risk team,  CRO-Imperial Energy and top management team.

In total 31 numbers of business risks were firmed up and assessed with their causes and mitigation factors and the team also finalized the ERM Manual for Imperial Energy. The closure meeting was held recently wherein the CEO expressed his satisfaction and enjoined upon all concerned to develop and propagate the organizational  risk culture in their  day to day activities.

In alignment with its mission to be a responsible corporate citizen, ONGC Videsh has offered to sponsor 20 students from South Sudan for the graduate level technical course in Petroleum Engineering in reputed institutes in India. Under this program, the first batch of five students was enrolled in the BSc (Petroleum Operations) course in the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun for the academic year 2014-15. The next batch of five students has been admitted in B. Tech. (Applied Petroleum Engineering), a four year degree course in the academic year 2015-16. Mr P. K. Rao, Director (Operations), ONGC Videsh presented the students from South Sudan with the Letter of Admission and cheques for the University Fees for the year 2015-16.

Greater Nile Oil Project (GNOP) in Sudan is one of the most successful ventures of ONGC Videsh as of date. With a cumulative production of 27 MMT (ONGC Videsh share), the project has generated wealth of about USD 1693 million as on 31^st March 2015. ONGC Videsh holds acquired 25% Participating Interest (PI) in GNOP on 12^th March 2003 from Talisman of Canada. The asset comprised of Blocks 1, 2 & 4 spread over an area of 49,500 Sq. Km. in Muglad Basin about 740 Km South West of Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. The asset also included a 1504 Km long, 28 Inch diameter Crude Oil Pipeline System from Heglig Field Base to Port Sudan for transportation of crude oil for export. The other Partners in the joint venture were CNPC of China (40% PI), Petronas of Malaysia (30% PI) and Sudapet of Sudan (5% PI).

ONGC Videsh acquired 24.125% PI in another producing asset of Block 5A on 12^th May 2004. The block is spread over an area of 20,917 Sq. Km. in Muglad Basin.

Post secession of South Sudan in July 2011, the southern contract areas of Blocks 1, 2 & 4 and entire Block 5A came to be situated in South Sudan whereas the northern contract areas with main processing facilities and Sudan Crude Oil Pipeline System came under the territory of Sudan.

The Projects are operated by Joint Operating Companies viz. Blocks 1, 2 & 4 in Sudan by GNPOC whereas Blocks 1, 2 & 4 and Block 5A in South Sudan are operated by GPOC and SPOC respectively.

ONGC Videsh conducts its business as a responsible corporate and believes in holistically addressing all issues related to People, Planet and Profit for a sustainable business and better future for all living beings.

The Company is committed to achieve inclusive growth of the marginalized and deprived sections of the society, particularly those who are directly impacted by the company’s activities. The Company undertakes Community Development/CSR & Sustainability initiatives to develop social wealth for the communities it is engaged with.

Under its CSR Program, ONGC Videsh is pursuing the matter with reputed government institutes for admission of the remaining students from South Sudan in the 2016-17 academic year.

The second batch of 12 executives of ONGC Videsh including Regional Presidents (risk owners, risk cell and core team members) were imparted two days’ Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) training by M/s BSI Group India Pvt. Ltd. on 3-4 November, 2015. With this, 25 executives have undergone this training in 2014-15. Director (Finance) addressed the valedictory session and interacted with the participants. Director (Finance) stressed on the importance of Risk Management for oil and gas sector, where uncertainties like crude oil pricing, geo-political situations, changes in regulations, environmental risk, exploration risk etc. can have a great impact on the company.

 Mr. S.P Garg, Director (Finance) addressing the valedictory session of training

Executives engrossed in the test conducted during training

Further, ONGC Videsh is in the process of mapping project-wise risks alongwith their root causes and mitigating factors. As a part of this exercise, brainstorming session was conducted for MENA (Middle East & North Africa) Business Unit chaired by Director (Operations) on 6^th November, 2015.

 Mr. P.K. Rao, Director (Operations) chairing the brainstorming session of MENA BU

The brain storming session, which focused on mapping the risks of GNPOC Sudan, GPOC & SPOC South Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Syria & Libya projects was participated by 25 executives of the BU & related groups. While addressing the participants, Director (Ops.) stressed that ERM should be integrated with day-to-day working and optimizing operational cost in view of falling crude oil prices. The geo-political situation of MENA projects was also the focus of the deliberations.

A similar exercise for Carabobo Project Venezuela was carried out with expats of Indian companies (ONGC Videsh, Indian Oil & Oil India) at Puerto-La-Cruz Venezuela on 31^st October, 2015 and for Sancristobal project at El-Tigre Venezuela on 1^st November, 2015 by a team led by Head Risk cell.

 Brainstorming session in progress at Venezuela

Reporters from the two most important national and regional media i.e La Republica and El tiempo from Colombia visited India to have a look at ONGC’s production fields/ installations and smart fields during October 2015, to have a first-hand experience of ONGC’s strength and report the same back to the Colombian media.

The media groups were represented by Mr Edmer Tovar Martínez, Editor and Host-El Tiempo and Ms Lilian Mariño Espinosa, Mines and Energy Journalist, La Republica.

D(E) along with project and media team

Mansarovar Energy Colombia Limited (MECL) is a 50:50 Joint Venture between ONGC Amazon Alaknanda Limited established by ONGC Videsh Ltd. from India, and Sinopec International Petroleum E&P Hong Kong Overseas Limited from China. It was incorporated in Bermuda on 2^ndAugust 2006.

It is important for MECL to highlight its operational excellence and expertise in heavy oil business and demonstrate the strength of its shareholders i.e ONGC & SIPC, both technically and financially, for strategic business growth.

At Mumbai High

MECL assets constitute a 100% interest in the light oil Velasquez free mineral property and a 50% interest in the Nare association contract where the Colombian national oil company, Ecopetrol S.A holds the remaining 50%. MECL also owns 100% of the Velasquez-Galan pipeline, which runs 189 km from the Velasquez property to Ecopetrol’s Barrancabermeja refinery.

MECL’s Nare association Contract is expiring on 5th November 2021. Share of Nare Contract field’s in production and remaining reserves of the consortium is around 90% and 80% respectively. Extension of Nare association Contract beyond 2021 is a big challenge and of critical importance to MECL. Efforts are being made to extend the contract beyond 2021.

In their visit from 26th October to 28th October, the media representatives were taken to ONGC Offshore installation in Mumbai High, Onshore installation of Mehsana where heavy crude is produced through in-situ combustion and Institute of Reservoir Studies, Ahmedabad. They were shown ONGC’s expertise and capabilities in producing fields in hostile offshore environment and also producing heavy viscous crude by application of thermal EOR. They were also exhibited ONGC’s effort and achievement in R&D on reservoir studies at IRS, Ahmedabad wherein continuous effort is made to maximize hydrocarbon recovery at minimum cost, provide holistic reservoir description through integration of all data, maximize the value of proven reserves with conventional and improved recovery techniques and enhance the skills and knowledge for better reservoir management.

Welcome at Institute of Reservoir Studies, Ahmedabad

On their final day of visit, media representatives interviewed Mr Sudhir Sharma-Director (Exploration) of ONGC Videsh wherein they showed keen interest about ONGC Videsh strategy in general and specific to Colombia, future investment of ONGC Videsh in Colombia, impact of low oil prices in exploration plans of the company etc.

Director (Exploration) Sudhir Sharma talks to the media

MD’s Message on Hindi Diwas