Patna, July 26: Cairn India, the energy major, today affirmed that there was a possibly of crude oil availability somewhere along 550km stretch of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur and other parts of north Bihar.

The company today concluded its second phase survey in Bihar’s Ganga basin for oil and natural gas.

Cairn India started its survey in January 2001 and has so far covered an area of 15,550km in 13 north Bihar districts. The energy firm had started its second phase of the survey this April. The survey concluded today at Angara Ghat near Samastipur.

Bihar energy minister Bijendra Yadav accompanied a team of seismic study experts and media to the spot. The company general manager Sunil Bharti told newpersons: “Though experts would take time to fully interpret the data, there is an indication of availability of crude oil. Concentration of hydrocarbons were found during digging or artificial blasts.” Bharti added that the data interpretation would be completed by March 2008.

Other seismic experts said airborne geomagnetic survey of the block had finished long back. It was followed by the 2D seismic survey. Experts, however, have not committed on commercial viability of crude oil search. “It would all depend on the volume of concentration of hydrocarbons in the area,” said an expert.

Bihar energy minister lauded the efforts of the company. “It would be a matter of great happiness for the state if any volume of crude oil and natural gas were located,” he stressed.

The onshore NELP IV block GV-ONN-2002/1 in northern Bihar was awarded under a production-sharing contract (PSC) by the central government in 2004. About 500line km data is now available to understand structures below the surface. The Ganga basin was mostly under explored and no hydrocarbons had been discovered there, as yet.