IOCL–BPCL JV Achieves Multiple Oil Discoveries in Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block 1
The joint venture was awarded the Onshore Block 1 Exploration Concession under Abu Dhabi’s 2019 Bid Round
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Bharat PetroResources Limited (BPRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), have achieved a major milestone in their overseas upstream journey with multiple oil discoveries in Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block 1. The concession is jointly operated through a 50:50 special purpose vehicle, Urja Bharat Pte Limited (UBPL), marking a significant expansion of India’s footprint in international hydrocarbon exploration.
UBPL was awarded the Onshore Block 1 Exploration Concession under Abu Dhabi’s 2019 Bid Round, providing the Indian partners a strategic entry into one of the world’s most prolific oil-producing regions. The latest discoveries underscore the technical capability, operational strength, and long-term global ambitions of both IOCL and BPCL as integrated energy companies.
In early 2024, UBPL announced its first oil discovery from the XN-76 exploratory well, drilled in the unconventional Shilaif play. Following successful hydrofracking operations, the well flowed light crude oil to surface from the Shilaif formation, conclusively establishing the presence of unconventional oil resources within the concession. This breakthrough has significantly enhanced the prospectivity of the block, with the project now moving into the appraisal phase to assess economic viability and commercial potential.
Building on this success, UBPL subsequently reported another oil discovery from the exploratory well XN-79-02S during testing operations in the same concession area. The well flowed light crude oil from the Habshan reservoir, marking the first oil discovery in this reservoir within Onshore Block 1. The find opens up a new development opportunity, with appraisal activities planned to advance the discovery towards potential commercial development.
Together, these discoveries reinforce UBPL’s growing upstream credentials and align with India’s broader strategy of enhancing energy security through strategic overseas hydrocarbon assets.
An elated Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his feelings – He wrote -A new milestone in India’s quest towards energy self-sufficiency under the dynamic leadership of PM Sh @narendramodi Ji. In a significant progress achieved by Urja Bharat PTE Ltd (UBPL), a 50:50 JV between India’s energy Maharatna @IndianOilcl and Bharat PetroResources Ltd (BPCL) in Abu Dhabi’s Onshore Block 1. The successful discovery of light crude oil in both the Shilaif play (XN‑76) and the Habshan reservoir (XN‑79 02S) marks an important milestone in IndianOil’s expanding global upstream journey. These breakthroughs reflect the dedication and technical excellence of our teams and reinforce our commitment to strengthening India’s energy security through strategic international partnerships. We look forward to advancing and unlocking further hydrocarbon potential in the concession.
