India has taken a major step towards strengthening its energy security as the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) began deepwater exploratory drilling in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the project virtually on Saturday under the government’s Samudra Manthan mission.
The first exploratory well, MN-DW18-1-H-D, marks the beginning of a new phase in offshore oil and gas exploration. According to the minister, deepwater resources will play a key role in increasing domestic energy production and reducing India’s dependence on imported fuel.
The Petroleum Ministry said this is the first of four planned deepwater wells in the Mahanadi Basin. ONGC will use advanced drilling technology to study the hydrocarbon potential of the region.
More than 5,600 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) are thought to be present in India’s eastern and western offshore basins, which have ocean depths of up to 3,000 meters. Recent discoveries in the Cauvery, Mahanadi and Andaman basins have further encouraged exploration.
The government believes the Samudra Manthan initiative will boost domestic oil and gas production, support energy self-reliance, and strengthen India’s long-term energy security.