Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday marked the commencement of drilling of the first appraisal well, MN-DWN18-1-HD, in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin.
Puri described the occasion as the beginning of a new chapter in India’s journey towards energy security. He said the commencement of drilling reflects a decade of reforms that have transformed India’s exploration and production landscape.
The MN-DWN18-1-HD well is the first of four planned deepwater wells that will evaluate one of India’s most prospective offshore basins. The drilling programme will use deepwater technology to unlock new hydrocarbon resources and strengthen domestic production capability, according to an official statement.
Puri said the government has transformed the exploration and production ecosystem through key policy reforms over the past decade. He cited the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, the Open Acreage Licensing Programme replacing the earlier nomination-based approach, a transparent Revenue Sharing framework, and the opening of nearly 99% of former offshore “No-Go” areas for exploration.
He added that nearly 81% of India’s active exploration acreage has been awarded after 2014, reflecting investor confidence in the reforms.
The minister also highlighted government investments in geoscientific data generation through Mission Anveshan, the National Seismic Programme, the Extended Continental Shelf Survey, the National Data Repository and the Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study.
Puri said 172 exploration blocks covering nearly 3.8 lakh square kilometres have been awarded under OALP, with committed investments exceeding USD 4.3 billion. He noted that around 674 wells were drilled in FY 2025-26, with five new discoveries made and seven discoveries monetised during the year.
He said the government’s strategy is two-fold: discovering new hydrocarbon resources while maximising recovery from existing national assets, including revitalising mature fields with advanced technologies.
Puri said India’s energy future depends not on a single discovery but on sustained reforms, technology and the efforts of geologists, engineers and offshore professionals. He said every metre drilled brings India closer to reducing import dependence and strengthening self-reliance.
The minister congratulated ONGC, Oil India Limited, the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons and technical partners, and expressed confidence that the drilling would strengthen India’s offshore exploration efforts and long-term energy security.
