THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 25, 2026
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has
commenced drilling its first deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi
offshore basin, marking a significant milestone in India's efforts to unlock
its vast offshore hydrocarbon reserves and strengthen long-term energy
security.
The company spudded the exploratory well, MN-DW18-1-H-D,
under the government's ambitious Samudra Manthan Mission. The well is located
around 23 nautical miles from the Konark discovery off the Odisha coast,
building on ONGC's recent Utkal and Konark discoveries that have reinforced the
hydrocarbon potential of the Mahanadi Offshore Basin.
The latest drilling campaign forms a key part of the Centre's
strategy to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration. During his
Independence Day address on August 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had
underscored the need to harness India's untapped offshore hydrocarbon
resources. In line with this vision, the government has opened nearly one
million square kilometres of previously restricted offshore areas for
exploration, creating opportunities for fresh acreage under upcoming rounds of
the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
India's eastern and western offshore basins, with water
depths extending up to 3,000 metres, are estimated to contain more than 5,600
million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) of hydrocarbon resources.
Recent exploration successes in the Cauvery, Mahanadi and Andaman basins have
further strengthened confidence in the country's offshore energy prospects.
To support its expanding deepwater exploration programme, ONGC established its flagship Deepwater Exploration Mission Centre (DeepX) in Mumbai earlier this year. The facility brings together advanced geoscientific capabilities, data interpretation, specialised training and global collaborations under the company's "One Company, One Data" framework to enhance exploration efficiency.
ONGC described the commencement of drilling as the beginning of one of India's most challenging deepwater exploration campaigns. The company said every prospect evaluated, every well drilled and every discovery made would contribute to increasing domestic oil and gas production, lowering dependence on imports and reinforcing India's energy security and self-reliance.
