ONGC Spuds First Deepwater Well in Mahanadi Basin Under Samudra Manthan Mission
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri virtually inaugurates ONGC's first deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin
In a landmark development for India’s energy sector, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has commenced drilling its first deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin under the Government of India’s ambitious Samudra Manthan Mission. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri virtually spudded the exploratory well MN-DW18-1-H-D from New Delhi on July 25, 2026, marking a significant milestone in India’s offshore hydrocarbon exploration programme.
The commencement of drilling represents a major step in unlocking India’s vast deepwater and ultra-deepwater hydrocarbon resources, reinforcing the country’s commitment to achieving greater energy security and reducing dependence on imported crude oil and natural gas.
Samudra Manthan Mission Gains Momentum
The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address on August 15, 2025, where he called for accelerating exploration of India’s untapped offshore oil and gas reserves. In line with this vision, the Government has opened nearly one million square kilometres of previously restricted offshore areas, paving the way for fresh exploration opportunities through upcoming rounds of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
India’s eastern and western offshore sedimentary basins, extending to water depths of up to 3,000 metres, are estimated to contain more than 5,600 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) of hydrocarbon resources. Recent discoveries in the Cauvery, Mahanadi, and Andaman basins have further strengthened confidence in India’s offshore exploration potential.
DeepX Driving ONGC’s Deepwater Strategy
To strengthen its deepwater exploration capabilities, ONGC launched its flagship Deepwater Exploration Mission Centre (DeepX) in Mumbai on January 5, 2026. The centre integrates advanced geoscientific expertise, cutting-edge interpretation technologies, specialised training, and global collaborations under the company’s “One Company, One Data” philosophy.
DeepX is expected to play a crucial role in accelerating exploration activities across India’s offshore basins while enhancing operational efficiency and technological capabilities.
Mahanadi Basin Emerges as Key Exploration Hub
The new exploratory well MN-DW18-1-H-D is located approximately 23 nautical miles from the Konark discovery, off the Odisha coast. ONGC’s recent Utkal and Konark discoveries have significantly enhanced the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Mahanadi Offshore Basin, making it one of India’s most promising offshore exploration regions.
The drilling campaign is considered one of the most technically challenging deepwater operations undertaken by ONGC and is expected to provide valuable geological insights into the basin’s untapped hydrocarbon reserves.
Boosting India’s Energy Security
The commencement of drilling under the Samudra Manthan Mission is expected to strengthen India’s long-term energy security by increasing domestic hydrocarbon production and reducing import dependence. Every successful exploration effort, discovery, and production milestone under the programme will contribute towards India’s vision of becoming more self-reliant in the energy sector.
With DeepX providing technological support and the Government opening vast offshore acreage for exploration, ONGC’s latest initiative signals a new era in India’s offshore oil and gas exploration journey.
