Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has struck natural gas in a deepwater well in the Mahanadi Basin, around 43 km off the Odisha coast, in a discovery that could add to India’s domestic energy resources.
The discovery was made in the MDW-28 well, drilled at a depth of around 1,450 metres.
ONGC said gas flowed from the well for three days at encouraging rates and sustained pressure. However, the company has not yet disclosed the flow rate or the estimated size of the gas accumulation.
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WHAT IS THE MAHANADI BASIN?
The Mahanadi Basin is a large sedimentary basin located along India’s eastern coast, extending from the Mahanadi river delta into the Bay of Bengal.
Over millions of years, sediments carried by rivers accumulated in the region, creating geological formations capable of trapping hydrocarbons such as oil and natural gas.
A significant portion of the basin lies offshore, making exploration technically challenging and expensive. The latest discovery was made in waters around 770 metres deep, with the well reaching a depth of approximately 1,450 metres.
The MDW-28 well is located about 23 nautical miles from Konark and is the first of four wells planned by ONGC as part of its current exploration campaign in the basin.
WHY IS THE MAHANADI BASIN DISCOVERY IMPORTANT?
India imports a substantial share of its energy requirements, including natural gas. Any commercially viable domestic gas discovery could help increase domestic supply and potentially reduce dependence on imported energy.
Natural gas is used extensively for electricity generation, fertilisers, city gas distribution and several industrial processes. Increasing domestic production could therefore have implications beyond the energy sector.
However, the discovery does not immediately translate into commercial gas production.
ONGC will need to conduct further testing and appraisal drilling to determine the size of the reservoir, the quantity of gas that can actually be recovered and whether extracting it is economically viable.
The latest find also builds on ONGC’s exploration activity in the basin. The company made the Utkal and Konark gas discoveries in the Mahanadi Basin in 2024.
ONGC has said it will continue exploring India’s deep and ultra-deepwater frontiers for hydrocarbons. If further drilling confirms significant recoverable reserves, the Mahanadi Basin could become an important contributor to India’s efforts to expand domestic energy production and reduce its reliance on imports.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
