RIL, OVL, Cairn India Vying for Myanmar Oil, Gas Blocks

India's Reliance Industries (RIL), ONGC Videsh (OVL) and Cairn India are vying for 30 offshore oil and gas blocks that Myanmar has put on offer, according to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report.

In all, 61 companies have been pre-qualified to bid for 11 shallow water and 19 deepwater blocks in an international tender, PTI reported citing Myanmar's Energy Ministry.

The shortlisted companies from India include RIL, ONGC Videsh, Oil India Ltd, Cairn India, gas utility GAIL India and Jubilant Offshore Drilling (JODPL).

Myanmar is looking at awarding the acreages in February or March next year, PTI said.

For the shallow water blocks, companies will have to team up with at least one Myanmar-owned company, while for the deepwater blocks, bidders will be expected to invest directly without any local participation, the ministry said.

Myanmar is simultaneously offering 18 blocks in its second onshore licensing round, for which OVL, Cairn, OIL, Jubilant and HPCL-owned Prize Petroleum have been pre-qualified from India.