With reference to the oil and gas pipelines in India, Consider the following statements: 1. GAIL is engaged in the exploration, production and transportation of crude oil and natural gas. 2. Asia’s first cross-country pipeline was constructed by Oil India Limited (OIL) from the Naharkatiya oilfield in Assam to the Barauni refinery in Bihar. 3. GAIL (India) Ltd was set up in 1984 as a public sector undertaking to transport, process and market natural gas for economical use. Which of the above statement is/are correct?

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only . Key Points Oil and gas pipelines in India Pipelines are the most convenient and efficient mode of transporting liquids and gases over long distances . Even solids can also be transported by pipelines after converting them into a slurry. Oil India Limited (OIL) under the administrative set-up of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is engaged in the exploration, production and transportation of crude oil and natural gas. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct. It was incorporated in 1959 as a company. Asia’s first cross-country pipeline covering a distance of 1,157 km was constructed by OIL from the Naharkatiya oilfield in Assam to the Barauni refinery in Bihar. Hence, Statement 2 is correct. It was further extended up to Kanpur in 1966. GAIL (India) Ltd. was set up in 1984 as a public sector undertaking to transport, process and market natural gas for its economic use. Hence, Statement 3 is correct. The first 1,700 km long Hazira-Vijaipur - Jagdishpur (HVJ) cross-country gas pipeline, constructed by GAIL ( India), linked Mumbai High and Bassein gas fields with various fertiliser, power and industrial complexes in western and northern India. This artery provided an impetus to the Indian gas market development.