ONGC Discovers Natural Gas in Mahanadi Offshore Basin

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) discovered natural gas on September 18, 2026, at the MN-DW18-1-H-D deepwater well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin. Located approximately 43 km off the coast of Konark, Odisha, the well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres using the Platinum Explorer drillship, with gas encountered between 1,441 and 1,452 metres.

This strike marks the first well drilled under the Samudra Manthan initiative, a national offshore exploration mission with a Union Cabinet-approved outlay of ₹84,084 crore through FY 2030–31. Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, who spudded the well on July 25, 2026, described the find as a major milestone for India's offshore energy exploration.

ONGC reports that the well has flowed gas for three days with encouraging reservoir pressure and flow rates. While the company has not yet disclosed the volume of recoverable gas or confirmed commercial exploitability, it noted that the discovery's proximity to the coast could allow for early monetization. Under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025, ONGC intends to explore cluster development using shared facilities with other regional finds, such as Utkal and Konark, to reduce costs. The project supports India's goal of increasing the share of natural gas in its energy basket to 15% by 2030 to reduce reliance on energy imports.