Odisha, Sept 22: In a major milestone for national energy self-reliance, state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation struck natural gas in the deep waters of the Mahanadi Basin off the Odisha coast. The maiden exploratory well, drilled under the Union Government’s flagship Samudra Manthan initiative, demonstrated positive flow rates and stable reservoir pressure during initial subsurface evaluations.
Company officials affirmed that the discovery holds significant potential for enhancing domestic energy security and reducing reliance on international liquefied natural gas imports. Central authorities maintained that resource extraction from the offshore block can be accelerated by utilizing shared infrastructure facilities under updated petroleum sector guidelines. Senior political leaders from Odisha welcomed the breakthrough, describing the discovery as a proud moment for the state and a vital step toward strengthening domestic energy resilience.
ONGC representatives declared that deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration efforts will continue across eastern offshore basins to unlock further hydrocarbon potential. The energy major stated that technical teams aboard the drillship will continue comprehensive testing to assess commercial viability and plan future development strategies.
