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ONGC Plans Deepwater Push With 87 Wells by FY31
ONGC wants to look for oil and gas in deep parts of the sea.
It plans to drill 87 wells over the next five years.
The number of wells will grow from four in FY26 to 27 in FY31.
The project is called Samudra Manthan.
The Government of India has approved ₹84,084 crore to support it.
ONGC is currently doing surveys and other preparation.
It may use artificial intelligence and machine learning to help with exploration.
The plan could change depending on what the surveys find.
ONGC says the effort is needed partly because older fields are producing less over time.
ONGC plans to drill 87 deepwater wells between FY26 and FY31.
The programme is scheduled to expand from four wells in FY26 to 27 in FY31.
The Government of India has approved an ₹84,084 crore outlay for the Samudra Manthan programme.
ONGC launched Samudra Manthan in August 2025 and is conducting surveys and preparatory work.
The company plans to use artificial intelligence and machine learning in its exploration efforts.
- Who
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), with support from the Government of India.
- What
- A planned deepwater exploration campaign involving 87 wells and an overall investment push of about ₹1 lakh crore.
- Where
- Deepwater offshore areas; ONGC also identifies its Western Offshore assets as a major production region.
- When
- The programme was launched in August 2025, with drilling planned from FY26 through FY31.
- Why
- To explore new hydrocarbon frontiers as production from mature fields faces natural decline.
Key facts
- Programme
- Samudra Manthan
- Planned wells
- 87 deepwater wells by FY31
- Drilling schedule
- 4 wells in FY26, 8 in FY27, 10 in FY28, 20 in FY29, 22 in FY30 and 27 in FY31
- Government-approved outlay
- ₹84,084 crore under the National Offshore Exploration Scheme
- Launch date
- August 2025
- Technology
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning are planned for exploration activities
- Capital expenditure
- More than ₹30,000 crore annually; ONGC invested over ₹35,000 crore in FY26 and plans to spend more than ₹30,000 crore in FY27
Sources
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