ONGC Strikes Gas in Mahanadi Deepwater Basin Off Odisha Under Samudra Manthan Campaign

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has struck natural gas at its MN-DW18-1-H-D deepwater exploration well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin off Odisha, marking the first discovery from a well drilled by ONGC in the basin under the Samudra Manthan offshore exploration campaign.

The gas strike was recorded on 18 September 2026 and announced by ONGC on 21 September. The well is located about 43 kilometres off Konark and was drilled to a total depth of 1,623 metres. Gas was encountered in the interval between 1,441 metres and 1,452 metres.

ONGC said the well had continued flowing gas for three days with encouraging flow characteristics and reservoir pressure. The company has not yet disclosed recoverable reserve estimates or a commercial production rate, and further appraisal and evaluation will determine the scale and economic viability of the discovery.

First Mahanadi Well Under Samudra Manthan

MN-DW18-1-H-D is the first well drilled by ONGC in the Mahanadi Basin under the Samudra Manthan campaign, which is aimed at expanding exploration across India’s deepwater and ultra-deepwater offshore areas.

The well was spudded on 25 July 2026 by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. ONGC had earlier described the drilling programme as part of a wider effort to examine the hydrocarbon potential of the Mahanadi offshore region using advanced deepwater exploration technologies and integrated geological data.

ONGC’s Deepwater Exploration Mission Centre, known as DeepX, is supporting the programme. The specialised unit brings together geoscience, drilling and reservoir expertise for offshore exploration and is intended to improve coordination across the company’s deepwater campaigns.

Location Could Support Faster Development

The new discovery lies relatively close to the Odisha coast, which could become an advantage during development. ONGC said the location offers the possibility of earlier monetisation compared with more remote deepwater discoveries, although this will depend on the outcome of further appraisal and commercial evaluation.

The Mahanadi offshore region already contains other ONGC discoveries, including areas associated with the Konark and Utkal prospects. The latest find could eventually be assessed alongside these discoveries rather than as an isolated accumulation.

ONGC said discoveries in the region could become candidates for development through shared infrastructure under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025. Common production and evacuation facilities could reduce the cost and time required to bring separate deepwater discoveries into production.

Mahanadi Basin Gains Importance in Offshore Exploration

India has been increasing exploration activity in offshore sedimentary basins as it attempts to expand domestic oil and gas production. Deepwater areas remain comparatively underexplored despite their geological potential, largely because drilling and development require specialised vessels, subsea technology and substantial capital.

The Mahanadi Offshore Basin along India’s eastern margin has therefore become one of the areas receiving renewed exploration attention. The latest gas strike gives ONGC additional geological information about the basin and provides a direct result from the first well drilled there under the current Samudra Manthan campaign.

The discovery does not yet represent a producing gas field. ONGC will need further appraisal drilling and reservoir studies before determining the size of the accumulation, recoverable resources and an appropriate development plan.

Samudra Manthan Moves From Drilling to Discovery

The MN-DW18-1-H-D well represents an early operational result from ONGC’s latest deepwater exploration push. The company had already identified the Mahanadi Basin as an important component of its offshore programme and began drilling the well in July.

With gas now encountered at the first well drilled under the campaign in the basin, attention will shift to appraisal work and the possibility of integrating the discovery with other nearby resources.

For ONGC, the result strengthens the geological case for continued exploration off the Odisha coast while adding another prospective gas accumulation to India’s domestic offshore resource base.

References

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited — Regulatory disclosure, 21 September 2026: Gas discovery at MN-DW18-1-H-D in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin under the Samudra Manthan initiative.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited — Samudra Manthan / Deepwater Exploration updates: Official information on the spudding of MN-DW18-1-H-D on 25 July 2026 and ONGC’s DeepX exploration programme.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025: Framework cited by ONGC for possible development of multiple offshore discoveries through shared infrastructure.