India must accelerate efforts to improve hydrocarbon recovery from ageing oil and gas fields as domestic production continues to decline. Technologies such as horizontal drilling and other advanced recovery techniques could help unlock additional reserves, improve well productivity and extend the operational life of mature assets.
According to Vick Saxon, Managing Partner at VZFOX Canada, an oil and gas consulting firm, India needs to give greater attention to revitalising existing fields alongside its investments in new exploration activities. Saxon observed that the industry has traditionally prioritised new field exploration, where most investments are directed. However, recent volatility in global energy markets has prompted countries to look inward and focus on improving recovery from existing wells to meet domestic energy requirements.
Mature Oil and Gas Fields Offer Significant Potential
Saxon highlighted that ageing and marginal fields could contribute significantly to India’s domestic hydrocarbon production if operators adopt appropriate technologies and recovery strategies. He said, “India’s mature and marginal fields account for a major share of producing assets and host a significant proportion of prognosticated hydrocarbon resources. Therefore, any improvement in mature field performance can generate considerable additional reserves and meaningful production gains.” Importantly, reaching peak production does not necessarily mean that an oil or gas field has exhausted its potential. With suitable technological interventions, operators can continue extracting hydrocarbons and extend the productive life of these assets.
Declining Domestic Production Calls for Greater Focus on Existing Fields
India’s crude oil production declined for the 11th consecutive year in 2025–26, while natural gas output fell for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, the government continues to encourage exploration investments across new sedimentary basins through initiatives such as Samudra Manthan. However, alongside these exploration efforts, the country needs to strengthen strategies for improving recovery from existing oil and gas fields. Mature reservoirs can offer substantial untapped potential, particularly when operators reassess their development plans and introduce suitable production technologies.
Horizontal Drilling Can Improve Recovery from Mature Wells
According to Saxon, inadequate recovery from mature fields may sometimes result from technological limitations rather than a lack of remaining hydrocarbon resources. In relatively homogeneous reservoirs, vertical wells can offer a cost-effective production option. However, when operators seek to revitalise mature fields, horizontal drilling may deliver better results. For instance, fields initially developed using vertical wells may not produce sufficient hydrocarbons through individual points of contact with the reservoir.
In such cases, horizontal drilling can improve geological connectivity by linking different reservoir lenses, potentially increasing contact with hydrocarbon-bearing formations and enhancing recovery. Nevertheless, selecting the right drilling technique requires a detailed understanding of reservoir characteristics and behaviour. Saxon emphasised that operators must understand how a field behaves, how its reservoir responds to production activities and how it evolves over time. This knowledge is essential for identifying suitable interventions and improving recovery performance.
Integrating Recovery Improvement with Asset Life Extension
Revitalising mature oil and gas fields requires operators to take a comprehensive approach that balances three critical priorities: recovering hydrocarbons that would otherwise remain inaccessible, improving overall recovery rates and extending the productive life of existing assets. By combining advanced drilling techniques with a better understanding of reservoir behaviour, operators can identify new opportunities to unlock additional hydrocarbon resources. As reported by etenergyworld.com, for India, greater investment in mature field technologies could complement new exploration activities, strengthen domestic production and support long-term energy security.
