OVL Hikes Stake in Azerbaijani Oilfield with $60 Million Investment

ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), a subsidiary of ONGC, has acquired Norwegian firm Equinor’s stake in Azerbaijan’s offshore Azeri Chirag Gunashli (ACG) oil field and an associated oil pipeline for $60 million. This increases OVL’s stake in the oil field to 2.95% and in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to 3.097%.

OVL’s Investment in ACG Oil Field and BTC Pipeline

Initial Investment (2013)

OVL first invested in ACG in 2013, acquiring a 2.72% stake.

Current Stake

Before the deal, OVL held a 2.31% stake in ACG and a 2.36% stake in the BTC pipeline.

New Acquisition

The recent purchase includes 0.615% in ACG and 0.737% in the BTC pipeline from Equinor, bringing OVL’s total stakes to 2.95% and 3.097%, respectively.

Azeri Chirag Gunashli Oil Field

Location

Located in the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan.

Ownership

State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) holds 25%, BP operates the field with a 30.37% stake, and other shareholders include Japanese firms and ExxonMobil.

Production

The field has been developed in phases, with the seventh platform, Azeri Central East, commissioned in early 2024.

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline

Function

Transports oil from ACG and condensate from Shah Deniz across Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to the Ceyhan marine terminal in Turkey.

Ownership

SOCAR holds 25% through Azerbaijan BTC Limited.

About ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL)

Foundation

Established in 1965 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ONGC to explore and develop petroleum and gas fields outside India.

Operations

OVL is the second-largest petroleum company in India by reserves and production, with stakes in 32 oil and gas projects across 15 countries.

Recent Production

In 2023-24, OVL produced 7.178 million metric tonnes of crude petroleum oil and 10.518 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent gas.

Headquarters

New Delhi.

Chairperson

Arun Kumar Singh.

Strategic Importance

Long-term Commitment

The ACG contract was extended till 2049 in 2017, reducing the stakes of international oil companies and adjusting OVL’s stake to 2.31% from 2.72%.

Equinor’s Exit

Equinor had previously agreed to sell its entire stake to SOCAR but ended up selling part of it to OVL, raising questions about the transaction details.

Piyush Shukla

Recent Posts

Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26: President Droupadi Murmu to Honour India’s Cleanest Cities

President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will present the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26 on 11 th…

5 hours ago

India–Myanmar Tri-Services HADR Exercise RAHAT MITRA Concludes in Chennai

India and Myanmar held the successful first edition of the Tri-Services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster…

6 hours ago

Arpita Singh, Renowned Indian Modernist Painter, Dies at 89

One of India's most renowned modernist artists, Arpita Singh has passed away in Delhi on…

6 hours ago

Pedro Alliana Becomes President of Paraguay After Santiago Peña’s Impeachment

Dr Devi Prasad Shetty the founder and chairman of Narayana Health received the French honour…

6 hours ago

Mahabharata, Rajatarangini and Arthashastra Added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Register

UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register includes manuscripts relating to the Mahabharata, Rajatarangini…

7 hours ago

Who Is Jensen Huang? NVIDIA CEO’s Biography, Education, Career and Net Worth

Jensen Huang is one of the co-founders, President, and Chief Executive Officer of NVIDIA Corporation.…

7 hours ago