Challenge of data prospecting in oil sector January 08, 2021 Availability of quality geo-scientific data in adequate quantity is the key to successful hydrocarbon exploration - THE HINDU Availability of quality geo-scientific data in adequate quantity is the key to successful hydrocarbon exploration - THE HINDU× To give a fillip to exploration and production, merely professionalising the National Data Repository may not be enough The biggest bottleneck in India’s oil and gas exploration business are the 3As and an R — availability, accessibility, authenticity, and reliability of quality geo-scientific data. If this not addressed, any amount of policy tweaking to incentivise the sector will not work. And who would know it better than Dhamendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, who is in his second term; Pradhan headed the Ministry in the Narendra Modi-led government’s first term too (2014).