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ONGC Strikes Natural Gas Off Odisha Coast, Igniting Mahanadi Basin Exploration
M
Moneycontrol•23-09-2026, 14:04
ONGC Strikes Natural Gas Off Odisha Coast, Igniting Mahanadi Basin Exploration
- •ONGC discovered natural gas in a deepwater exploration well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin, approximately 43 km off Odisha's Konark coast.
- •The discovery was made on September 18 at the first well drilled by ONGC as part of the government's Samudra Manthan offshore exploration campaign.
- •The well, MN-DW18-1-H-D, was drilled to a depth of 1,623 meters, with gas found between 1,441 and 1,452 meters, showing encouraging flow rates.
- •This discovery is significant as it's the first Mahanadi Basin well drilled by ONGC under the Samudra Manthan initiative, part of India's push for domestic oil and gas resources.
- •Further appraisal and commercial evaluation are needed to determine the recoverable gas volume and economic viability, though its proximity to the coast could simplify infrastructure connections.
Key Questions Answered
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) struck natural gas in a deepwater exploration well located around 43 km off Odisha's Konark coast in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin.
ONGC announced the natural gas discovery on September 18, 2026, from the first well drilled under the government's Samudra Manthan offshore exploration campaign.
The well, designated as MN-DW18-1-H-D, was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres, with gas encountered between the 1,441 and 1,452-metre intervals.
