Discovery Details
ONGC struck gas at deepwater well MN-DW18-1-H-D in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin, off the Odisha coast, under the Samudra Manthan initiative. The discovery was made on 18 September 2026.
The well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres, with the gas strike recorded at the 1,441–1,452 metre interval. The well is located approximately 43 km off Konark and represents the first well in the Mahanadi Basin under this campaign.
Operational Status
The well has been flowing gas with encouraging flow and reservoir pressure for the last three days prior to the announcement. The well was spudded on 25 July 2026 by Hon'ble Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri.
Strategic Significance
The discovery strengthens ONGC's deepwater exploration programme and supports India's efforts to expand its indigenous hydrocarbon resource base. The relative proximity to the coast offers potential for early monetisation, subject to further appraisal and commercial evaluation.
This find, along with other discoveries in the area, can be a candidate for development through shared facilities enabled by the PNG Rules, 2025, which would help bring deepwater resources onstream.
Management Involvement
On 27 August 2026, ONGC Chairman & CEO Shri Arun Kumar Singh, Director (Technology & Field Services) Shri Vikram Saxena, and Director (Exploration) Shri O. P. Sinha visited the drillship Platinum Explorer and interacted with the team engaged in the drilling campaign.