INDUSTRY
ONGC finds gas in deepwater well off Odisha’s Mahanadi basin
- IBJ Bureau
- Sep 22, 2026
ONGC has struck gas in a deepwater well in the Mahanadi basin, nearly 43 km off the Odisha coast.
The discovery made at a depth of around 1,450 metres could potentially aid India’s quest to reduce its energy import bill.
The government-owned oil and gas explorer has said that gas had been flowing from the well for three days at encouraging rates and sustained pressure.
However, it has not disclosed the flow rate or estimated reserves.
Further tests will determine how much gas can be recovered and whether commercial production is viable.
“ONGC will continue to push into deep and ultra-deepwater frontiers in the search for hydrocarbons,” the company has said on the X.
The discovery comes two years after ONGC’s Utkal and Konark gas discoveries in the Mahanadi Basin in 2024.
The MDW-28 well is located around 23 nautical miles from Konark in waters about 770 metres deep.
It is the first of four wells planned under ONGC’s current campaign in the basin.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has called the discovery a major milestone for India’s offshore exploration programme.
“The discovery, along with other finds in the area, opens up the potential for cluster development through shared facilities under the PNG Rules, 2025,” Mr Puri has said, adding, “Such an arrangement could reduce development costs and timelines.”
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