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OVL maps exit strategy as several assets turn barren

Will keep only those assets that give returns to boost energy security

ONGC Videsh (OVL), which has been in an aggressive mode to acquire hydrocarbon assets overseas, has turned introspective. The overseas subsidiary of state-run ONGC is putting in place an exit strategy with an aim to keep only those assets that give returns compatible with its mandate to boost the country?s energy security.

So far, the government-owned explorer?s exit plans have been rather nebulous, and it has relinquished only those blocks in which it did not find any hydrocarbon that could be commercially mined. The exits, however, would only enhance its capacity for acquiring new attractive assets.

?Earlier, we had no policy of exiting a project. But now we have revised our business development policy comprising an exit option. We keep on reviewing the projects and whenever it is felt that we should exit the project, we would now do it unhesitatingly,? SP Garg, managing director of OVL, told FE.

OVL?s cumulative investment up to March 31, 2013, was $16.75 billion, of which 73% was financed through internal accruals. The company?s net profit has increased from R2,807 crore in FY09 to R3,929 crore in FY13.

It targets to increase its output manifold to 60 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe) by 2030 from 8.36 mtoe currently.

OVL?s production started in 2002-03 from Block 06.1 in Vietnam in January 2003 and from Greater Nile Oil Project in Sudan in March 2003.

Sources said OVL?s assets in North and South Sudan and Syria are in distress because of geo-political disturbances. Also, another prolific asset in Venezuela runs the risk of facing similar hindrances and could be put on the block.

Garg, however, said that as of now OVL has not decided to exit any particular project. ?Earlier, we did not have this strategic thinking (of exiting acquired assets). We no longer think that whatever we have acquired is necessarily a life-long agenda. Exiting at the right time is part of the programme,? he explained.

Exiting projects is not unique for OVL. For oil and gas exploration companies, monitoring of assets is a regular feature.

They get out of acreages that do not offer the requisite return.

OVL?s incremental production in FY14 came from assets in Azerbaijan, Brazil and Venezuela. In FY13, the firm reported profit after tax of Rs 3,929 crore on revenues of Rs 18,029 crore.

Currently, OVL has 32 projects in 16 countries. Of this, 11 projects are ?producing?, while 5 acreages are ?discovered assets? and ?under development.? The remaining 14 projects are at various stages of exploration.

In FY13, OVL relinquished blocks in Cuba and Brazil. These projects were at the exploration stage and the firm along with other consortium partners decided to let go of them for not achieving success in finding hydrocarbon.

While OVL has seen a rise in output, some of its projects are stuck in countries affected by geo-political crisis. Sudan and Syria are among the countries where it had to shut its operation. While in other areas such as Venezuela, there is fear that operations may be hit.

The Carabobo project in Venezuela is currently producing 8,000-9,000 barrels per day. The field has potential to produce 400,000 barrels per day.

The company is bullish on its latest acquisition of Azeri, Chirag and deepwater portion of Guneshli (ACG) fields in Azerbaijan and Rovuma Area I offshore block in Mozambique. It believes that these projects would help reach OVL?s long-term production target of 60 mtoe by FY30.

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First published on: 06-05-2014 at 21:46 IST
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