(ET)
ONGC and the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), the upstream oil and gas regulator, have told an official probe panel that they had no prior knowledge that the reservoirs of the state-run company and Reliance Industries in KG Basin were connected, three people aware of the development told ET.
The A P Shah committee that last year probed the allegations that Reliance Industries (RIL) was illegally drawing gas from ONGC fields had observed that the two companies companies appeared to have known in advance the continuity of reservoirs, and recommended the government make further inquiry into it.
The Shah panel had concluded that Reliance unjustly gained by producing gas from the block operated by ONGC since the reservoirs of the two fields were connected, and must return the benefit to the government.