An empowered committee of secretaries (ECS) today overruled recommendations of regulator Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) on award of exploration blocks under NELP-VI.

It has instead favoured allotting 12 blocks to state-run oil firm ONGC.

The DGH in its recommendation for award of blocks offered in the sixth round of auction under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NLEP) had opined against awarding 12 deep sea blocks to ONGC due to its "poor" track record.

However, the ECS, comprising representatives of the ministries of petroleum, finance and law, did not agree with its suggestions.

The consortium of ONGC-GSPC-HPCL-GAIL was clear winner in 11 deep sea blocks while ONGC-Cairn India Ltd-Tata were ranked number one in a Kerala-Konkan basin block.

But the DGH was against award of the blocks to the consortium and recommended "award by negotiations to an international company." It had also suggested that Reliance Industries Ltd, the second highest bidder in most of these blocks, should be given these contracts.

The oil ministry opposed the DGH's recommendations saying if a qualified bidder made the highest bid, it should be awarded the block.

Of the 21 deep sea block offered in NELP-VI, Reliance had emerged clear winner in seven - two in Krishna Godavari basin and five in Mahanadi basin. Santos was recommended award for two North-East-Coast (NEC) blocks.

Of the six shallow water blocks, one each has been recommended for ONGC, Focus Energy, Cairn-ONGC-Tata and ONGC-BG while two blocks have been suggested for the consortia of GSPC-IOC-GAIL-HPCL-Petrogas.