Oil India Limited has discovered the presence of natural gas in an exploratory well drilled in the Andaman Sea, marking a significant development in India's offshore exploration efforts. The announcement was made by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri.
Discovery Details
The discovery was made in the "Sri Vijayapuram-3" well, located approximately 15 kilometers off the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 meters. The well was drilled to a depth of over 1,900 meters in the Eocene formation. During initial production testing, continuous flaring indicated the presence of natural gas.
"An ocean of energy opportunities reinforced in the Andaman Sea! Very happy to report the presence of natural gas in Sri Vijayapuram-3, an exploratory well drilled by Oil India Ltd. 15 km off the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 meters. Initial production testing of the well at the depth of 1900 plus meters in the Eocene formation has established the presence of natural gas through continuous flaring," said Puri in a statement on X.
Sampling and Analysis
Oil India Limited is currently conducting gas sampling to assess its composition and calorific value, along with isotope studies to understand the origin of the gas. These analyses will help determine the commercial viability and quality of the discovered resource.
Government's Samudra Manthan Mission
The development comes under the government's "Samudra Manthan Mission" (National Deep Water Exploration Mission), announced as part of a broader push to expand deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration across India's offshore basins. According to the company, hydrocarbon presence has now been reported in two out of three exploratory wells drilled in the current campaign in the Andaman Basin.
"Under the Samudra Manthan Mission (National Deep Water Exploration Mission) announced by Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi Ji on Independence Day 2025, a large number of deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration wells are planned in our offshore basins to fully exploit our hydrocarbon reserves. Presence of hydrocarbon is now reported in 2 (Two) wells out of 3 (Three) exploratory wells drilled by OIL in the current exploratory campaign off the Andaman Basin," further said the union minister.
Future Plans
The government further plans to "take forward exploration ambitions in coordination with global deepwater exploration experts." This discovery underscores India's commitment to enhancing domestic energy production and reducing dependence on imports. The successful exploration in the Andaman Sea opens up new possibilities for hydrocarbon reserves in the region, potentially boosting India's energy security.
