In a statement on its half-yearly results, Hardy Oil said the joint venture (JV) partners might have to relinquish portion of the block owing to Indian defence ministry's new policy on access restriction. It said India's Defence Research and Development Organisation has classified one-third of the D3 block as 'impact zone' and has imposed certain access restrictions to that area.

RIL, in a presentation at an Exit Conference called by CAG, at the end of its second audit of KG-D6 for 2008-09 to 2011-12, stated the auditor was using hindsight to question project efficiencies and procurements made eight years back.

Transparency International, a non-profit organisation fighting against corruption and malpractices, gave Reliance Industries and ONGC ninth and 26th positions, respectively, in its latest report Transparency in Corporate Reporting. The report was released on Wednesday.

Reliance Holding USA, Inc owns 49.9 per cent of the EFS Midstream business and Pioneer holds 50.1 per cent.

RIL, as well as its partner Pioneer Natural Resources Co, are seeking a buyer for their stakes in Eagle Ford Midstream venture as they focus on shale oil production.

At 13:00hrs, the 30-share Sensex was down 21 points at 27,845 and the 50-share Nifty was trading 8 points lower at 8,314.

The refiner's margins dropped to $3 a barrel this year, from $4.50 to $5 a barrel last year, but levels will increase by a about $3 to $4 a barrel by mid-2016, said Neeraj Shukla, a chief manager at BPCL's refineries division.

According to CBI sources, three existing Sebi officials and one former official are being examined.

ONGC, ranked 22 in 2013, improved one position this year on the list led by global firms Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell. RIL slipped from the 19th rank in 2013 to 22nd.