Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has struck gas at its deepwater well MN-DW18-1-H-D in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin, off the Odisha coast, under the Samudra Manthan exploration initiative. The gas discovery was recorded on September 18, 2026, at a depth interval of 1,441-1,452 metres. The well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres and is located approximately 43 km off Konark. It is the first well drilled by ONGC in the Mahanadi Basin under the Samudra Manthan campaign.
The well’s location relatively close to the Odisha coast could support early monetisation of the discovery, subject to further appraisal, assessment of the reservoir and commercial evaluation. The well was spudded on July 25, 2026, by Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. The drilling campaign is part of ONGC’s ongoing efforts to expand exploration in India’s deepwater basins and identify additional domestic hydrocarbon resources.
On August 27, 2026, ONGC Chairman and CEO Arun Kumar Singh, Director (Technology & Field Services) Vikram Saxena and Director (Exploration) O. P. Sinha visited the drillship Platinum Explorer. They interacted with the drilling team and reviewed progress on the Mahanadi deepwater campaign.
ONGC said the well has been flowing gas with encouraging flow rates and reservoir pressure for the past three days. Further technical studies and appraisal activities will be required to determine the size and commercial potential of the discovery. The gas strike adds to ONGC’s deepwater exploration programme and supports the company’s efforts to increase India’s indigenous hydrocarbon resource base. Exploration in deepwater areas forms part of the broader effort to identify new domestic sources of oil and natural gas and reduce dependence on imports.
The discovery could also be considered for development through shared facilities along with other discoveries in the area. Such an approach could help optimise infrastructure utilisation and support faster development of deepwater resources, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and commercial assessment under the PNG Rules, 2025.
The Mahanadi Offshore Basin is one of the key sedimentary basins being explored for additional hydrocarbon resources. ONGC’s latest drilling campaign is aimed at evaluating the basin’s deepwater potential and establishing additional resource opportunities. The company will undertake further appraisal and evaluation of the discovery before determining the next phase of development. The results will help establish the reservoir characteristics, recoverable resources and commercial viability of the gas discovery.
