Could Hardeep Puri's Discussions with Norway's Experts Transform India's Deep-Sea Oil & Gas Exploration?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Hardeep Singh Puri leads discussions with Norwegian experts.
- Focus on developing a deep-sea oil and gas exploration ecosystem.
- Engagement with key industry players including Technip FMC and Equinor.
- Potential for advancements in carbon capture and storage technology.
- Norway's terminal can store up to 100 million tonnes of CO2.
New Delhi, July 7 (NationPress) Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri spearheaded an Indian delegation on Monday to engage with experts from Norway concerning the establishment of a sophisticated deep-sea oil and gas exploration framework in India, as the nation aims to intensify its search for hydrocarbons.
"As India seeks to explore over 250,000 sq km in the Open Acreage Licensing Policy Round 10, one of the largest offshore exploration bidding rounds in the world, we are committed to creating a comprehensive E&P deepwater technology ecosystem in India, guided by the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Puri stated on X.
During a roundtable with representatives from the Offshore Energy Cluster in Bergen, Norway, we engaged in dynamic discussions on a variety of technologies, including well services, subsea operations, and advanced drilling tools. Our conversations covered the entire spectrum of hydrocarbons exploration, focusing particularly on deep-sea exploration with contributions from Norwegian energy experts," Puri added.
Key players from the oil and gas industry, such as Technip FMC, Reach Subsea, DNV Group, Odfjell Drilling, CCB Subsea, Shearwater, Innovasjon Norge, and NORWEP, participated in this significant meeting, alongside representatives from Equinor. Norway's Minister of Energy, Jostein Dahl Karlsen, was also in attendance.
Puri also visited Norway's advanced carbon dioxide terminal earlier in the day.
"To bolster India's pursuit of energy security under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I toured the Northern Lights CO2 Terminal in Bergen, Norway. This is the largest carbon storage project funded by the Norwegian Government, in collaboration with Equinor, Shell, and Total Energies," Puri shared on X.
"We are evaluating this project and similar initiatives to enhance India's energy capabilities. Norway's proficiency in deepwater exploration, seismic oil surveys, offshore wind, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies aligns perfectly with India's ambitious energy transition goals," he added.
Norway's distinct terminal in Bergen has the capacity to store up to 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. It features a flexible infrastructure for transporting CO2 from capture sites by ship to a receiving terminal in western Norway for temporary storage, before being conveyed through pipelines for safe and permanent storage 110 km offshore and 2,600 metres beneath the seabed.