Petroleum Minister Ram Naik confirmed the gas discovery in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Cambay, but said the petroleum major has yet to inform the Director General of Hydrocarbons.

Reliance Industries is expected to make a formal announcement regarding their discovery next month and in recognising its error said the company shall first inform the DGH before making any formal announcements.

According to senior company officials, RIL struck hydrocarbons in the very first well it drilled in the GK-OSJ/1 block, which was one of five acquired from UK's Tullow Oil for about $US1 million.