New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) The government Tuesday said the average gas production in the Reliance Industries-operated oil and gas blocks in the Krishna Godavari basin during April-June was 31 percent less than the approved levels of 70.39 MMSCMD (million metric standard cubic meters per day), at 48.60 MMSCMD.

‘The average gas production during April-June 2011 from KG-DWN-98/3 block is 48.60 MMSCMD which is less than the approved Field Development Plan (FDP) rate of 70.39 MMSCMD from D1-D3 and MA fields during this period,’ R.P.N. Singh, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

According to the minister, the government had advised the company to expeditiously drill more development wells to augment gas production.

‘The contractor was advised to expeditiously drill more development wells in D1 and D3 field as per field development plan (FDP) in order to enhance gas production,’ the minister said.

The minister added that the government is taking various measures to enhance natural gas production in other parts of the country.

‘Accelerating exploration activities by awarding exploration acreages through NELP & CBM rounds,’ the minister said.

Till date, 235 oil and natural gas exploratory blocks and 33 coal bed methane (CBM) blocks have been awarded.

‘Further 34 exploratory blocks were offered under NELP-IX round of bidding, against which bids have been received for 33 blocks,’ the minister added.