1.0 introduction oil and natural gas corporation limited (ongc… · 2019. 6. 11. · 1.3.3 project...

Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Proposed Drilling of 3 Exploratory Drilling Wells in Existing NELP Block AA-ONN-2001/2, Kolasib & Mamit District, Mizoram

Chapter-1 Introduction

VIMTA Labs Limited, Hyderabad C1-1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) proposes to carryout

exploratory drilling in NELP Block AA-ONN-2001/2, Kolasib & Mamit District,

Mizoram. Out of the proposed 3 exploratory drilling wells, 2 exploratory drilling

wells falls in Kolasib district and 1 exploratory drilling wells in Mamit district,

Mizoram.

This chapter describes the purpose of the report, identification of project and

proponent, brief description of nature, size, location of the project and importance

to the region and country. The chapter also describes the scope of the study,

details of regulatory scoping carried out as per Terms of Reference (TOR) issued

by Ministry of Environment Forests (MoEF), New Delhi.

1.1 Purpose of the Report

As per Environmental Impact Assessment EIA Notification dated 14th September,

2006, exploration of oil & gas falls under category ‘A’ of project activity 1(b)

requires prior Environmental Clearance (EC) to be obtained from MoEF before the

commencement of ground activity.

The application for prior EC (Form-1 and Pre-feasibility Report) for the proposed

project has been submitted to MoEF&CC on 17th September 2014 and same was

reviewed by the Expert Appraisal Committee (Industry II) held during 29th -30th

October 2014 in New Delhi to prescribe Terms of Reference (TORs) for the

preparation of EIA/EMP report. TOR has been issued by MoEF vide letter reference

F.No.J-11011/305/2014-IA II (I) dated 6th January 2015. A copy of the ToR

letter, along with its compliance is enclosed as Annexure-I.

This EIA Report is prepared inline with the ToR issued by MoEF&CC and addresses

the anticipated environmental impacts of the proposed project and proposes the

mitigation measures for the same for obtaining Environmental Clearance (EC)

from MoEF&CC, New Delhi. The report covers the primary data collected during

15th January 2016 to 8th April 2016 representing partly winter and partly pre

monsoon season.

Based on the TOR conditions stipulated by MoEF&CC vide letter mentioned above,

draft EIA/EMP has been prepared for conducting Environmental Public Hearing

and submitting the final EIA report to MoEF&CC for obtaining Environmental

Clearance from MOEF&CC, New Delhi.

1.2 Identification of Project and Project Proponent

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is a Public Sector Undertaking

(PSU) of the Government of India, under the administrative control of the Ministry

of Petroleum and Natural Gas. It is India's largest oil and gas exploration and

production company. It produces around 70% of India's crude oil (equivalent to

around 25% of the country's total demand) and around 60% of its natural gas.

With a market capitalization of over INR 2 trillion, it is one of India's most

valuable publicly-traded companies.

ONGC has been ranked 357th in the Fortune Global 500 list of the world's biggest

corporations for the year 2012. It is also among the Top 250 Global Energy




Company by PLATTS. ONGC was founded on 14 August 1956 by the Indian state,

which currently holds a 69.23% equity stake. It is involved in exploring

hydrocarbons in 26 sedimentary basins of India, and owns and operates over

11,000 kilometers of pipelines in the country. Its international subsidiary, ONGC

Videsh currently has projects in 15 countries.

1.3 Brief Description of the Project

1.3.1 Nature of the Project

As per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification dated 14th

September, 2006, the proposed exploratory drilling project falls under ‘Category

A’ of Activity Type 1(b).

The proposed project intends to identify the presence of hydrocarbon prospects

through exploratory drilling and to delineate and quantify hydrocarbon pools in

discovered fields through exploratory drilling. The proposed project will basically

involve drilling of three exploratory wells in the block.

1.3.2 Size of the Project

ONGC has identified three well locations HOAC, HOAD and BRBAA are included in

present EIA study. It is proposed to drill three exploratory wells for the fulfillment

of Minimum Work Program (MWP) and also to evaluate potential of the entire

block.

1.3.3 Project Site Details

1.3.3.1 Location of the Block

The NELP block AA-ONN-2001/2 in the state of Mizoram measuring 5340 sq.km

was awarded to ONGC-IOC (80% and 20% PI) consortium with ONGC as

Operator. After fulfillment of MWP in Phase-I & -II, ONGC entered into phase-III

w.e.f. 08.04.2013 by relinquishing an area of 1345 sq.km as per PSC norms after

retaining an area of 2660 sq.km. In current exploratory Phase-III, the Operator

ONGC has to drill one well to fulfill MWP commitment. In addition to one MWP

well, ONGC proposes to drill additional exploratory wells to assess hydrocarbon

potentiality of the entire block.

Elevation of the block varies from 400 m to 2000 m. Index Map is shown in

Figure-1.1. The block coordinates are given in Table-1.1. Tentative well

coordinates are as given in Table-1.2.

TABLE-1.1

BLOCK COORDINATES

Sr. No ML Name Boundary Points Block Coordinates (WGS-84)

Latitude Longitude

1 NELP Block HOAC 240 12’ 14.24” 920 35’ 53.32”

2 HOAD 240 09’ 41.42” 920 36’ 13.31”

3 BRBAA 240 07’ 10.08” 920 31’ 06.77”




TABLE-1.2

TENTATIVE WELL LOCATIONS

Sr.

No.

Proposed

Location

Latitude Longitude Nearest Village District

1 HOAC 240 12’ 14.24” 920 35’ 53.32” North of Medium Kolasib

2 HOAD 240 09’ 41.42” 920 36’ 13.31” South of Medium Kolasib

3 BRBAA 240 07’ 10.08” 920 31’ 06.77” South of Sauhliap

Mamit

The study area map showing the block location and exploratory drilling well

locations are shown in Figure-1.2. Google map showing block area with well

locations is given in Figure-1.3. The environmental setting of the block area

falling in NELP Block area is given in Table-1.3 to Table-1.5.




FIGURE-1.1

INDEX MAP

HOAC Well Locations

HOAD Well Locations

BRBAA Well Locations




FIGURE-1.2

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP NELP BLOCK IN KOLASIB & MAMIT DISTRICT




FIGURE-1.3

GOOGLE MAP SHOWING WELL LOCATIONS IN NELP BLOCK




TABLE-1.3

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF WELL HOAC (1 KM RADIUS)

Sr. No. Particulars Details

1 Well HOAC Location

Village North Medium

District Kolasib

State Mizoram

2 Well site Coordinates Latitude- 24°12’ 14.24’’N

Longitude- 92°35’ 53.32’’E

3 Well Site Elevation above MSL 757 m aMSL

4 Geographical location in toposheet 83 D/12

5 Nearest representative IMD station Agartala (139 km, WSW)

6 India Meteorological Dept. (IMD), Data

Annual Mean Max Temp 33.0 oC

Annual Mean Min Temp 10.3 oC

Annual Average Rainfall 176.8 mm

Predominant wind direction

S and SE directions followed by SW direction

Study Period – Site specific

Mean Max Temp 30.7

Mean Min Temp 9.2

Average Rainfall 13.0


S followed by SE. Next predominant are SW & N direction

7 Present land use at the site Forest Land

8 Nearest highway NH-154 (0.6 km, SE)

9 Nearest railway station Bairabi R.S (5.8, WSW)

10 Nearest airport Lengpui (Aizwal 39 km, S)

11 Nearest river Tlawng River (6.0 km, WSW)

12 Nearest town Kolasib (8.5 km, NE)

13 Nearest major town with 2,00,000 population

Impal (147 km, NE)

14 Villages within 1 km radius Pangbalkawn (1.0 km, NE)

15 Hills/valleys Nil

16 Nearest tourist place Nil

17 Archaeologically important places Nil

18 Protected areas as per Wildlife Protection Act,1972 (Tiger reserve,

Elephant reserve, Biospheres, National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves and conservation reserves)

Nil

19 Reserved / Protected Forests Within Inner line forest reserve

20 Seismicity Zone-V as per IS 1983 (Part-1) 2002

Note : All distances mentioned above are aerial




TABLE-1.4

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF WELL HOAD (1 KM RADIUS)


1 Well HOAD Location

Village South medium

District Kolasib

State Mizoram

2

Well site Coordinates Latitude – 24o09’41.42’’N

longitude – 92o36’13.31’’E 3 Well Site Elevation above MSL 400 m aMSl

4 Geographical location in toposheet

83 D/12

5 Nearest representative IMD station

Agartala (139 km, WSW)

6 India Meteorological Dept. (IMD), Data






Study Period - Site specific

Mean Max Temp 30.7

Mean Min Temp 9.2



S followed by SE. Next predominant are SW & N direction


8 Nearest highway NH-154 (2.7 km, NW)

9 Nearest railway station Bairabi R.S (7.3 km, NW)

10 Nearest airport Lengpuri(Aizwal 34 km, S)

11 Nearest rivers Tuwng River (6.3 km, WSW)

12 Nearest town Kolasib (10.8 km, NNE)

13 Nearest major town with 2,00,000 population

Impal (149 km, NE)

14 Villages within 1 km radius Nil

15 Hills/valleys Nil 16 Nearest tourist place Nil 17 Archaeologically important places Nil 18 Protected areas as per Wildlife

Protection Act,1972 (Tiger reserve, Elephant reserve,

Biospheres, National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves and conservation reserves)

Nil

19 Reserved / Protected Forests Within Inner line forest reserve





TABLE-1.5

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF WELL BRBAA (1 KM RADIUS)


1 Well BRBAA Location

District Mamit

State Mizoram

2 Well site Coordinates Latitude – 24°07’ 10.08’’N Longitude – 92°31’ 06.77’’E

3 Well Site Elevation above MSL 2000 m aMSL

4 Geographical location in toposheet 83 D/8

5 Nearest representative IMD station Agartala-130 km-WSW

6 India Meteorological Dept. (IMD),

Data






Study Period – Site specific

Mean Max Temp 30.7

Mean Min Temp 9.2



S followed by SE. Next

predominant are SW & N direction


8 Nearest highway NH-154 (6.9 km, NNE)

9 Nearest railway station Bairabi R.S (8.7 km, NNE)

10 Nearest airport Lengpuri(Aizwal 31 km, SSE)

11 Nearest river Tuwng River (2 km, NE)

12 Nearest town Mamit (21 km, SSW)

13 Nearest major town with 2,00,000

population

Impal (159 km, NE)

14 Villages within 1 km radius Nil

15 Hills/valleys Nil 16 Nearest tourist place Nil 17 Archaeologically important places Nil 18 Protected areas as per Wildlife

Protection Act,1972 (Tiger reserve, Elephant reserve, Biospheres, National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves and conservation reserves)

Nil

19 Reserved / Protected Forests Inner line forest reserve





1.3.4 Importance of the Project

Total crude oil import for FY 2014-15 was 189.43 MMT almost same as the

imports during FY 2013-14 (189.24 MMT; increase of 0.1%). However, import of

petroleum products (20.28 MMT) increased by 21 percent, mainly on account of

increase in import of LPG (26%), MS (58%), HSD (35%), Bitumen (80%), and

other products like - Aviation gas, Pet Coke (33%), etc.

Petroleum products export declined for the first time in last 15 years; registering

a decline of 6.2 percent mainly on account of decline in export of Naphtha, Fuel

oil, Bitumen, etc.

With total import (crude and petroleum products) combined with total products

export of 63.66 MMT translates to net import volume of 146 MMT for FY 2014-15.

Net import bill for crude oil during FY 2014-15 was 6,873.50 billion (US$ 112.75

billion) against 8,648.75 billion (US$ 142.96 billion) during FY 2013-14 – a

decrease of 20.5 per cent in terms of the Indian Rupee and decrease of 21.13 per

cent in dollar value mainly on account of lower crude oil prices in the international

market.

Energy security has become one of the top three goals of the Indian Government.

The Indian Government is encouraging exploration and production of oil and gas

to a great extent. This would primarily allow India to tap its own resources there

by reducing its import bill.

Discovery of viable hydrocarbon reserves in the state can boost the state’s

economic development to a great extent. It would also catalyse influx of

industries in the state. The proposed exploration project is thus of immense

significance for the country.

ONGC is engaged in the exploration of oil & gas in the NELP Block. Discovery of

hydrocarbons in this block will substantially improve the socio-economic

conditions of the region. The proposed exploration will also help to discover the

geological past to create the economic future for the region as well as to the

country.

1.4 Scope of the Study

With a view to assess the environmental impacts arising due to the proposed

exploratory drilling in NELP block, ONGC has retained the services of M/s Vimta

Labs Limited, Hyderabad to prepare EIA Report for various environmental

components including air, noise, water, land and biological components along

with parameters of human interest which may be affected and to prepare an

Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for mitigating adverse impacts.

Environmental baseline monitoring has been carried out during 15th January 2016

to 8th April 2016 representing partly winter and pre monsoon season and used to

identify potential significant impacts. The scope of the present study is inline with

the TOR as recommended by MoEF&CC. The scope of study broadly includes:




To conduct literature review and to collect data relevant to the study area;

To undertake environmental monitoring so as to establish the baseline

environmental status of the study area;

To identify various existing pollution activities in the ambient levels;

Establishing the relevant features of the proposed exploratory drilling that are

likely to have an impact on the environment;

Predicting the impacts on the environment due to exploratory drilling;

To evaluate the predicted impacts on the various environmental attributes in

the study area by using scientifically developed and widely accepted

environmental impact assessment methodologies;

To prepare a Disaster Management Plan (DMP) based on Risk Assessment,

studies;

To prepare an Environment Management Plan (EMP) outlining the measures

for improving the environmental quality and scope for future drilling activities

and Occupational Health and Safety for environmentally sustainable

development; and

To identify critical environmental attributes required to be monitored.

The literature review includes identification of relevant articles from various

publications, collection of data from various Government agencies and other

sources.

1.4.1 Administrative and Legislative Background

The principal Environmental Regulatory Agency in India is the Ministry of

Environment and Forests (MoEF&CC), New Delhi. MoEF formulates environmental

policies and accords environmental clearance for the projects.

The applicable environmental standards for the project are given in Annexure-

II.

1.4.2 Study Area for EIA

The study area for the EIA is the entire NELP block. The total block area is

considered as the study area.

1.4.3 Methodology of the Study

Vimta Labs Limited, Hyderabad along with ONGC officials had conducted a

reconnaissance survey and sampling locations were identified on the basis of:

Collection, collation and analysis of baseline data for various environmental

attributes viz Ambient air quality, Water quality, Soil, Noise and Bio diversity etc.

Predominant wind directions in the study area as recorded by India

Meteorological Department (IMD);

Existing topography, location of surface water bodies like ponds, canals and

rivers;

Location of villages/towns/sensitive areas;

Accessibility, power availability and security of monitoring equipment, pollution

pockets in the area;

Areas which represent baseline conditions; and




Field studies have been conducted for a period of three months (15th January

2016 to 8th April 2016 representing partly winter and pre monsoon season to

determine existing conditions of various environmental attributes as outlined in

Table-1.6.

TABLE-1.6

ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES AND FREQUENCY OF MONITORING

Sr. No

Environmental

Component

Sampling Locations

Sampling Parameters

Total Sampling

Period

Sampling Frequency

1 Meteorology One central location

Temperature, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Relative Humidity, Cloud Cover, Rainfall

one non monsoon season (Three months)

Continuous hourly recording

2 Ambient Air Quality

10 Locations PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, VOC, THC CH4-HC, non CH4-HC, and CO

Two consecutive days per week for one non -monsoon season

24 hourly samples

3 Water Quality 4 Locations of surface water & 6 locations of Ground water

As per IS: 10500 Grab sampling Once during study period

4 Noise Monitoring

10 Locations Sound Pressure Levels

Continuously for 24 hours

Once during study period

5 Soil Analysis 10 Locations in Existing ecological resources within study area

Soil profile, Chemical constituents

Composite sample

Once during study period

6 Ecology 5 Terrestrial Ecological Locations & 3 Aquatic location within Existing ecological resources within study area

Flora and fauna Field observations and secondary sources

Once in study period

7 Demography and Socio-economic aspects

Total block area Demographic profile

Based on District Census Handbook (2011)

8 Land Use Total block area Trend of land use change for different categories

Based on District Census Handbook (2001) and satellite images

9 Geology - Geological history

Data collected from primary sources

10 Hydrology - Drainage area and pattern, nature of streams, aquifer characteristics, recharge and discharge rates.

Based on data collected from secondary sources

Apart from the primary data on the existing baseline quality status of various

environmental components, a summary of physical, natural, social and cultural

environment has also been provided incorporating secondary data collected from

various sources. The methodology of monitoring and analysis is given in

Annexure-III.

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