New Delhi: State-run exploration firm Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is believed to have grabbed 13 out of the 23 oil and gas blocks on offer under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) while Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) got nine.

However, it was the private sector RIL, in consortium with Hardy Oil of UK, which walked away with seven of the nine prime deepwater blocks on offer, government sources said.

The Empowered Committee of Secretaries has cleared the award and contracts are likely to be signed by January, they said.

Scottish explorer Cairn Energy and Premier Oil of UK drew blank in the third round of NELP where government received 45 bids for 23 out of the 27 oil and gas exploration blocks on offer.

Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), consortium with Geo Global Resources (India) Ltd and Jubiliant Enpro India Ltd, was the third successful company, bagging the KG-OSN-2001/3 offshore blocks in Krishna Godavari basin, sources said.

State-run exploration firm ONGC bid for 23 blocks out of 27 on offer while Reliance Industries in consortium with Hardy Oil of UK bid for 15 blocks.

Cairn and Premier Oil had bid for one and three blocks respectively.

PTI