Key Event Details
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) spudded exploratory well MN-DW18-1-H-D in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin on 25 July 2026. The spudding was conducted virtually by Hon'ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri from New Delhi.
Strategic Context and Background
The drilling initiative is part of the Government of India's Samudra Manthan Campaign, following Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's Independence Day address on 15 August 2025 calling for harnessing India's untapped offshore oil and gas potential. The government has opened nearly one million square kilometres of previously restricted offshore areas for exploration through forthcoming OALP rounds.
Geological and Resource Context
India's eastern and western offshore basins extend to water depths of up to 3,000 metres and are estimated to hold over 5,600 MMTOE (Million Metric Tonnes of Oil Equivalent) of hydrocarbon potential. Recent exploration successes in the Cauvery, Mahanadi and Andaman basins have reinforced the promise of India's offshore frontier.
ONGC's Operational Infrastructure
ONGC launched its flagship Deepwater Exploration Mission Centre, DeepX, in Mumbai on 5 January 2026. DeepX integrates ONGC's geoscientific expertise, advanced interpretation capabilities, specialized training and strategic global collaborations under the "One Company, One Data" philosophy.
Location and Proximity
Well MN-DW18-1-H-D is being drilled approximately 23 nautical miles from Konark, off the Odisha coast, building on ONGC's recent Utkal and Konark discoveries that have strengthened the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Mahanadi Offshore Basin.
Strategic Importance
The commencement of drilling marks the beginning of one of India's most challenging deepwater exploration campaigns, with the objective of enhancing domestic production, reducing import dependence, and strengthening India's energy security and self-reliance.
Issuing Authority
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited - Corporate Communications, New Delhi
Contact: Phone: +91-11-26754013, Email: ongcdelhicc@ongc.co.in