Major boost to domestic gas production! ONGC finds gas near Odisha coast in Mahanadi
This is first discovery under samundra manthan 10 billion dollars project by govt to find natural resources at sea.The initiative is part of India’s broader push to increase domestic oil and gas production and reduce its exposure to global price and supply shocks.
Total Views |
Bhubaneswar, Sep 22: In a major development that can boost India's Domestic Hydrocarbon production capabilities, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has struck natural gas in a deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi offshore basin, about 43 km off the Konark coast.
The gas strike was made at the MN-DW18-1-H-D well at a depth of 1,441–1,452 metres. The well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres. Located around 43 km Konark, the well is the first drilled by ONGC in the Mahandi Basin the Samudra Manthan initiative.
This is first discovery under samundra manthan 10 billion dollars project by govt to find natural resources at sea.The initiative is part of India’s broader push to increase domestic oil and gas production and reduce its exposure to global price and supply shocks.
Its proximity to the coast offers potential for early monetisation, subject to further appraisal and commercial evaluation.“ONGC will continue to push into deep and ultra-deepwater frontiers in the search for hydrocarbons,” the company said on X.
#ONGC strikes gas in the deep waters of Mahanadi Basin.
— Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) (@ONGC_) September 21, 2026
MDW-28, the maiden well of ONGC’s current deepwater campaign in the Mahanadi Basin is flowing gas with encouraging rates and sustained reservoir pressure.
The campaign was launched on 25 July 2026 by Hon'ble Minister of… pic.twitter.com/whAV8TubIK
The discovery comes two years after ONGC’s Utkal and Konark gas discoveries in the Mahanadi Basin in 2024. The well was spudded on July 25, 2026, by Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri.
On August 27, ONGC Chairman & CEO Arun Kumar Singh, Director (Technology & Field Services) Vikram Saxena and Director (Exploration) O. P. Sinha visited the drillship Platinum Explorer and interacted with the team engaged in the drilling campaign.
The well has been flowing gas with encouraging flow and reservoir pressure for the last three days, ONGC said.The discovery strengthens ONGC’s deepwater exploration programme and India’s efforts to expand its indigenous hydrocarbon resource base.