Question

“Petroleum is unevenly distributed in India.” Elaborate the statement with examples.

Answer 1

“Petroleum is unevenly distributed in India” means that petroleum reserves are not spread uniformly across the country; rather, they are concentrated in a few specific regions.

1. Western Offshore Region (Mumbai High):

• • Largest producer of petroleum in India.
  • Located in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Maharashtra.
  • Accounts for over 50% of India’s petroleum output.

1. Assam and North-East India:

• • Oldest oil-producing region (first well at Digboi in 1889).
  • Oilfields are Digboi, Naharkatia, and Moran.
  • Significant production but limited by reserves and terrain.

1. Gujarat: 

• • Major onshore oil fields are Ankleshwar, Kalol, and Cambay.
  • Second to Mumbai High in production.

1. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh:

• • Small offshore fields like Kaveri basin (Tamil Nadu) and Krishna-Godavari basin (Andhra Pradesh).
  • Minor contributors compared to western and northeastern regions.