India has recorded a significant offshore energy discovery after Oil India Limited (OIL) confirmed the presence of natural gas in an exploratory well drilled in the Andaman Sea.

The announcement was made by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who described the discovery as a major step forward in India’s efforts to strengthen domestic energy resources.

Discovery made off Andaman coast

The natural gas find was reported at the “Sri Vijayapuram-3” exploratory well, located around 15 kilometres off the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 metres.

According to officials, the well was drilled to a depth exceeding 1,900 metres in the Eocene formation, where continuous flaring during initial production tests confirmed the presence of natural gas.

Part of Samudra Manthan Mission

The discovery forms part of the Centre’s ambitious “Samudra Manthan Mission” or National Deep Water Exploration Mission, aimed at expanding exploration activities in India’s offshore basins.

The initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2025 to unlock untapped hydrocarbon reserves in deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions.

More hydrocarbon potential identified

Officials said hydrocarbon presence has now been confirmed in two of the three exploratory wells drilled by Oil India during its ongoing campaign in the Andaman Basin.

The company is currently conducting gas sampling and laboratory studies to determine the composition, calorific value and origin of the newly discovered gas reserves.

Strengthening India’s energy security

The discovery is expected to support India’s long-term goal of reducing dependence on imported energy and increasing domestic production.

The government has indicated that future exploration efforts will continue in collaboration with global deepwater exploration experts to fully assess the hydrocarbon potential of the Andaman offshore region.

Industry experts believe the discovery could open new opportunities for offshore energy development in one of India’s relatively unexplored sedimentary basins.