ONGC plans to invest $7.7 bn in India gas block: Report

Indian state explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp plans to invest USD 7.7 billion to develop a gas field in an east coast block and produce up to 30 million cubic meters a day in five years, the Economic Times reported on Tuesday.

The company plans to drill eight additional wells in the block to maximize output from the deep-sea field and has sought approval for the plan from the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons and the petroleum ministry, the newspaper said citing an emailed response from ONGC.

ONGC could not immediately be reached for comment.

Last week, the Business Standard newspaper had reported that ONGC was in talks with the Indian unit of BG Group and Italian oil major ENI to sell up to a 30% stake in an east coast block.

In February, BP agreed to buy a 30% stake in 23 oil and gas blocks owned by Reliance Industries, India's most valuable listed conglomerate, for USD 7.2 billion.