The biggest stumbling block is to even conceptualise dividing Bombay High in an effort to increase output. "It is impossible to do this as the hydrocarbon reserves are spread. Further, all pipelines are inter-connected under water which makes any kind of segregation impossible to conceive," sources told The Financial Express.

Marathon is believed to have stated that it could improve productivity at the field and consequently pitch for a share of the profits accruing from the increased production. To this, ONGC maintains that it is difficult in the first place to make an analysis of the existing production capabilities at Bombay High. This is because the estimates have largely been conservative anddo not reflect the true potential of the field. "Only when this is done, can a true data base be created and if global oil majors believe they can improve on this level, the Centre could then consider their request," sources say. It would be as difficult for the ONGC to share facilities like platforms with any other company.

The government would also not be inclined to give its go-ahead to this proposal given that Bombay High is the "jewel" of ONGC. "This is synonymous with both proprietorship and pride," experts say, adding that the idea of an outsider being invited to supplement ONGC's efforts is almost unthinkable at this stage.

The sudden interest by world oil majors could be attributed to the fact that output from Bombay High has been showing signs of fatigue which is bad news for the economy. The field practically contributes to over 50 per cent of ONGC's crude production and a setback would call for some fire-fighting measures.

It was precisely for this reason that ONGC sought the expertise ofthe UK-based consultants, Gaffney, Cline & Associates (GCA) who are presently working on a mid-life review of the field. ONGC's own intellectual manpower of geologists, geo-physicists, petro-physicists, production engineers and reservoir engineers have zealously worked on studying Bombay High while creating an idealistic data base which includes revalidating/acquiring data, preparing maps and locating wells where some intervention can be done to get more oil. The data created will be accessible to anyone in ONGC's offices at Dehradun or Delhi.

Experts say Bombay High has the potential to yield oil till 2050. This means that it has a life of about 75 years from the time it was discovered in 1976. They pooh-pooh theories that the field needs to be rehabilitated as the "question does not arise in the first place." The mandate of GCA is simple and straightforward: ensure continuity in production but at lower costs.

Even while the consultants will go all out suggesting measures to increase output, their toppriority is to keep costs in check using affordable technology and going in for drastic saving measures if the need arises. "Even if one assumes that the output at Bombay High does not change, if costs are pared by even 20 per cent, it would translate into enormous savings for ONGC," sources said.

GCA is keen on educating ONGC on all aspects of oil exploration and are attempting a multi-disciplinary approach where team spirit is all important. GCA has also acknowledged that ONGC is strong intellectually and no training of personnel is, therefore, needed.

Though no immediate suggestions have been made so far, sources said that the consultants are of the opinion that 450 wells need to be drilled in Bombay High of which a lion's share would be water injectors. These prolong the field's life and create artificial pressure to bring the oil and gas to the surface.

Bombay High can rightly be described as the nerve centre of ONGC. Till April 1978, the field produced 2,400 million barrels of oil and 177 billioncubic metres of gas.