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Odisha’s Gas Frontier Advances From Bhubaneswar to Deepwater Discoveries
Odisha has been looking for oil and gas beneath the land and sea for about a decade.
The effort began with an ONGC office opening in Bhubaneswar in 2015.
Scientists then used seismic surveys to study rocks below the ground.
New exploration rules made it easier for companies to seek possible oil and gas resources.
ONGC later received a deepwater area to explore.
In January 2024, it announced two gas discoveries called Utkal and Konark.
In 2026, drilling began to find out whether the gas can be developed commercially.
If successful, the project could bring investment, jobs, industry and government revenue to Odisha.
Odisha’s oil and gas exploration effort began taking shape with an ONGC office opened in Bhubaneswar in 2015.
The National Seismic Programme surveyed about 2,530 line kilometres across nine Odisha districts in 2016.
A 2016 exploration policy supported new bidding, followed by the award of five onshore blocks and one deepwater block in 2019.
ONGC announced the Utkal and Konark gas discoveries in January 2024 after initial gas flows.
ONGC began drilling India’s first deepwater appraisal well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin on July 25, 2026.
- Who
- The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, with involvement from the Government of India’s petroleum ministry and exploration companies.
- What
- A decade-long exploration effort has produced the Utkal and Konark gas discoveries and advanced to deepwater appraisal drilling.
- Where
- The Mahanadi Basin and Mahanadi Offshore Basin, including areas off Odisha’s coast; surveys also covered nine Odisha districts.
- When
- The effort began in 2015; discoveries were announced in January 2024, and appraisal drilling began on July 25, 2026.
- Why
- The appraisal well is intended to determine whether the discoveries can be developed commercially.
Key facts
- Initial office
- An ONGC office was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar in 2015.
- Seismic survey
- About 2,530 line kilometres were surveyed across nine Odisha districts in 2016.
- Exploration policy
- The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy was introduced in 2016.
- Block awards
- Five onshore blocks were awarded to Oil India and one deepwater block to ONGC in 2019.
- Gas discoveries
- ONGC announced the Utkal and Konark discoveries in January 2024.
- Appraisal drilling
- ONGC began drilling India’s first deepwater appraisal well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin on July 25, 2026.
- Potential impact
- Commercial success could bring investment, jobs, industrial activity and government revenues to Odisha.
Sources
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