Officials said the issue was complex and the oil ministry will consider various points raised by Reliance and ONGC as well as the report of consultancy DeGolyer and Mac-Naughton (D&M), appointed to assess ONGC's allegation that RIL stole the state firm's gas, to find a way to resolve the dispute.

This means, at an average gas price of $4.2/mBtu and exchange rate of Rs 60 against a dollar, RIL drilled gas costing Rs Rs 8000-9000 crore that belonged to ONGC, say two analysts.