Oil India Limited (OIL) launched a landmark offshore drilling campaign in the Kerala-Konkan basin by spudding its first deepwater well, Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Puri announced on Saturday.He described the development as an “inspirational stride” in India’s energy journey aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.
The frontier Category-III basin is considered to hold significant potential, and the planned 6,000-metre-deep well—located 20 nautical miles offshore—will be among the deepest offshore wells drilled in Indian waters. Highlighting the groundwork already completed, Puri said on X that over 1,028 sq km of 3D seismic data had been acquired, and the campaign would “probe key Cretaceous plays and strengthen India’s pursuit of new energy frontiers.”India currently imports 80 per cent of its oil and 50 per cent of its natural gas needs, as per ANI. To reduce dependence, the government has been expanding sourcing from multiple countries while simultaneously ramping up domestic exploration.A major push is underway in the Andaman region, where Puri earlier said exploration activity was pointing to “good news”, suggesting the area could become India’s “Guyana moment”.Strengthening its deepwater capabilities, OIL recently signed a Technology Service Agreement with TotalEnergies in New Delhi to enhance collaboration in deep and ultra-deepwater exploration across Indian sedimentary basins. The agreement aims to leverage TotalEnergies’ global expertise across OIL’s current and future offshore portfolio, including stratigraphic wells mandated by the government.India has about 3.5 million sq km of sedimentary basins, but only eight per cent has been explored so far, leaving a vast offshore expanse untapped.
