Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has commenced drilling its first deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin, marking a major milestone in India’s efforts to expand domestic oil and gas exploration. The exploratory well, MN-DW18-1-H-D, was virtually spudded by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri from New Delhi under the Government of India’s Samudra Manthan Mission.
The drilling campaign represents an important step in exploring India’s deepwater and ultra-deepwater hydrocarbon resources and supports the country’s goal of strengthening energy security through increased domestic production. The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, made during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2025, to unlock India’s untapped offshore oil and gas reserves. In line with this vision, the Government has opened nearly one million square kilometres of previously restricted offshore areas for exploration, creating new opportunities through upcoming Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) bidding rounds.
India’s offshore basins along the eastern and western coasts, extending to water depths of 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 potential.
To accelerate deepwater exploration, ONGC established its dedicated Deepwater Exploration Mission Centre (DeepX) in Mumbai on January 5, 2026. The centre brings together the company’s geological expertise, advanced data interpretation capabilities, specialised training programmes and international collaborations under its “One Company, One Data” approach. The integrated platform is designed to improve exploration efficiency and support complex offshore operations.
The newly launched exploratory well is located approximately 23 nautical miles from ONGC’s Konark discovery off the Odisha coast. The drilling programme builds on the company’s earlier Utkal and Konark discoveries, which have significantly improved the hydrocarbon prospects of the Mahanadi Offshore Basin.
The drilling of MN-DW18-1-H-D marks the beginning of one of India’s most technically demanding offshore exploration programmes. Operating in deepwater conditions requires advanced drilling technology, specialised equipment and detailed geological analysis to evaluate potential hydrocarbon reserves safely and efficiently.
The Government believes that every successful exploration campaign will contribute to increasing India’s domestic oil and gas production, reducing dependence on imported energy and supporting long-term energy security. Expanding exploration into deepwater regions is also expected to create new opportunities for investment, technology development and employment across the country’s energy sector.
With the launch of this well, ONGC has taken another significant step in advancing India’s offshore exploration programme. The deepwater campaign reflects the country’s commitment to developing its own energy resources while supporting economic growth and enhancing self-reliance in the energy sector. As exploration activities continue across offshore basins, ONGC aims to unlock new hydrocarbon reserves that will help meet India’s growing energy demand and strengthen the nation’s position as it moves towards a more secure and sustainable energy future.
