Jaipur, April 6: State-run Oil India Ltd (OIL) has achieved a 70% increase in crude oil production from the Thar desert in Rajasthan, taking output to 1,202 barrels per day, compared to 705 barrels per day last year, officials said.
The surge comes from the Baghewala oil field in the Bikaner-Nagaur sub-basin, one of India’s key onshore oil-producing regions. The field spans over 200 square kilometers and has 52 wells, of which 33 are actively producing. The field, discovered in 1991, has been producing since 2017.
OIL attributed the rise to the use of advanced extraction technologies, including Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS), fishbone drilling, barefoot completion, electric downhole heaters, and hydraulic sucker rod pumps, which enhance recovery from high-viscosity heavy crude in the desert geology. This year, CSS operations were completed in 19 wells, 72% more than last year, and 13 new wells were drilled compared with nine previously.
The crude is transported by tankers from Jaisalmer to Mehsana, Gujarat, and then piped to the Koyali refinery operated by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) for processing.
Officials said this increase is significant for India’s energy security, reducing dependency on imported crude while ensuring steady supply to refineries and industries. In the financial year 2025-26, the Rajasthan field recorded annual production of 43,773 metric tonnes, up from 32,787 tonnes in the previous year.
Authorities emphasized that safety and environmental standards are strictly followed, ensuring sustainable and responsible extraction in the desert ecosystem. They said the milestone demonstrates the potential of unconventional resources in meeting India’s growing energy demands and supports long-term industrial and economic growth.
