Exploration well drilled at about 1,450 metres depth; commercial potential to be assessed
Global Times News | INDIA ; GTNS
SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 , BHUBANESWAR: A natural-gas discovery in the Mahanadi basin has added a new development to India’s offshore exploration activity along the eastern coast.
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has reported gas indications from a deepwater exploration well located off the Odisha coast under the Samudra Manthan exploration programme.
The well was drilled at a depth of approximately 1,450 metres, with the company now expected to undertake further assessment to determine the commercial potential of the discovery.
The location in the Mahanadi offshore basin places the discovery within a region that has attracted increasing attention for hydrocarbon exploration.
Further appraisal work will be important in establishing the size, quality and recoverability of the resource.
For Odisha, the development is significant from an exploration perspective, although the eventual economic value will depend on subsequent technical assessment and commercial viability.
Global Times News | INDIA ; GTNS NEWS DESK
SEPTEMBER 21, 2026