ONGC strikes gas in deepwater well off Odisha coast
NEW DELHI: In a big push to India’s energy security, state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited has found gas at deepwater well MN-DW18-1-H-D in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin , nearly 43 km off the Odisha coast.
The company said it was the first well drilled in the Mahanadi Basin under Samudra Manthan , the national offshore exploration mission. Its relative proximity to the coast offers potential for early monetisation, subject to further appraisal and commercial evaluation, it added.
The well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres and recorded the gas strike on Sept 18 in the 1,441-1,452 metre interval. It was spudded on July 25 by petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri, marking a key step in assessing the hydrocarbon potential of one of India’s prospective offshore regions.
“The well has been flowing gas with encouraging flow and reservoir pressure for the last three days. The discovery strengthens ONGC’s deepwater exploration programme and India’s efforts to expand its indigenous hydrocarbon resource base,” the company said in a statement.
The MN-DWN18-1-HD is the first of four planned deepwater appraisal wells in the basin. The wells are being drilled using deepwater technology to assess the commercial viability of hydrocarbon reserves.
The discovery builds on the Utkal and Konark discoveries made in 2024, which strengthened the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Mahanadi offshore basin.
India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirement and about half of its natural gas demand, making higher domestic production a key part of its long-term energy security strategy and efforts to reduce exposure to global supply disruptions and price volatility.
“India is aiming to raise the share of natural gas in its energy basket to 15% by 2030. Higher domestic production will definitely help achieve that target,” a ministry official said.
The Union Cabinet approved the Rs 84,084-crore Samudra Manthan, or National Offshore Exploration Scheme, on July 31. The scheme is designed to accelerate exploration in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas through large-scale 2D and 3D seismic surveys, exploratory drilling and common offshore infrastructure.
It is expected to strengthen the offshore exploration-to-production chain, unlock new reserves, accelerate the development of discoveries and build indigenous deepwater capabilities.
The company said it was the first well drilled in the Mahanadi Basin under Samudra Manthan , the national offshore exploration mission. Its relative proximity to the coast offers potential for early monetisation, subject to further appraisal and commercial evaluation, it added.
The well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres and recorded the gas strike on Sept 18 in the 1,441-1,452 metre interval. It was spudded on July 25 by petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri, marking a key step in assessing the hydrocarbon potential of one of India’s prospective offshore regions.
“The well has been flowing gas with encouraging flow and reservoir pressure for the last three days. The discovery strengthens ONGC’s deepwater exploration programme and India’s efforts to expand its indigenous hydrocarbon resource base,” the company said in a statement.
The MN-DWN18-1-HD is the first of four planned deepwater appraisal wells in the basin. The wells are being drilled using deepwater technology to assess the commercial viability of hydrocarbon reserves.
The discovery builds on the Utkal and Konark discoveries made in 2024, which strengthened the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Mahanadi offshore basin.
India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirement and about half of its natural gas demand, making higher domestic production a key part of its long-term energy security strategy and efforts to reduce exposure to global supply disruptions and price volatility.
“India is aiming to raise the share of natural gas in its energy basket to 15% by 2030. Higher domestic production will definitely help achieve that target,” a ministry official said.
The Union Cabinet approved the Rs 84,084-crore Samudra Manthan, or National Offshore Exploration Scheme, on July 31. The scheme is designed to accelerate exploration in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas through large-scale 2D and 3D seismic surveys, exploratory drilling and common offshore infrastructure.
It is expected to strengthen the offshore exploration-to-production chain, unlock new reserves, accelerate the development of discoveries and build indigenous deepwater capabilities.
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