Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) discovered natural gas in a deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi offshore basin, around 43 km off the Konark coast of Odisha. The discovery supports India’s efforts to expand domestic hydrocarbon production and strengthen its indigenous energy resource base.
Gas Found in Maiden Deepwater Campaign Well
ONGC made the discovery on September 18 in the MN-DW18-1-H-D well, the first well drilled under its current deepwater exploration campaign in the Mahanadi Basin as part of the government’s Samudra Manthan initiative. The company drilled the well to a target depth of 1,623 metres and encountered gas in the 1,441–1,452-metre interval. Subsequently, the well began flowing gas at encouraging rates while maintaining sustained reservoir pressure. However, ONGC will conduct further appraisal and commercial evaluation to determine the size and commercial viability of the discovery.
Discovery Could Support Early Development
The discovery’s proximity to the Odisha coast could support early monetisation, subject to further appraisal and commercial assessment. Moreover, ONGC plans to evaluate this discovery along with other finds in the region for potential development through shared facilities. This approach is enabled by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025, which provide a framework for using shared infrastructure for suitable offshore discoveries.
Building on Mahanadi Basin Exploration
ONGC began deepwater exploration in the Mahanadi Basin nearly two decades ago, with exploration activities starting in the MN-DWN-98/3 block in 2006. Since then, the company has carried out further deepwater drilling and identified estimated multi-trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas resources, along with the Utkal and Konark offshore discoveries. As reported by newindianexpress.com, ONGC plans to continue exploring deep and ultra-deepwater frontiers for additional hydrocarbon resources. Consequently, the company expects such exploration to contribute to India’s broader objective of strengthening domestic energy security.
