India Launches Major Offshore Oil and Gas Survey

India is expanding offshore oil and gas exploration through new seismic surveys, stratigraphic drilling, and bidding rounds across the Bay of Bengal and adjoining basins. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons is leading a large offshore survey programme over 161,000 line kilometres across nearly two years.

Offshore Sedimentary Basins in India

India’s offshore sedimentary basins include the Bengal Offshore Basin, Mahanadi Basin, Krishna-Godavari Basin, Cauvery Basin, Saurashtra Basin, and Andaman Basin. These basins are part of India’s petroleum exploration frontier and contain deepwater and shallow-water prospects.

Seismic Survey and Stratigraphic Drilling

A seismic survey uses sound waves to map subsurface rock layers and identify possible hydrocarbon traps. Stratigraphic drilling is used to collect rock samples and geological data from unexplored areas before full-scale production drilling begins.

• The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons is conducting one of India’s largest offshore surveys in recent years.
• The survey covers 161,000 line kilometres in the Bay of Bengal and nearby offshore regions.
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India plan a stratigraphic drilling campaign in early 2026.
• The first phase of the drilling campaign includes four deep-sea wells in the Andaman, Mahanadi, Saurashtra, and Bengal sedimentary basins.

Andaman Basin and Frontier Exploration

The Andaman Basin is a frontier offshore area with geological similarities to gas-producing regions in Myanmar and Indonesia. India opened nearly one million square kilometres of previously restricted offshore “No-Go” areas in 2022 for exploration activity.

Hydrocarbon Policy and Licensing

The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy governs India’s exploration and production regime for oil and natural gas. The Open Acreage Licensing Programme allows companies to select blocks for bidding from available exploration areas.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons functions under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• The Bay of Bengal is one of India’s major offshore hydrocarbon provinces.
• 3D seismic data is used to create detailed images of subsurface geological structures.
• Offshore exploration in India includes deepwater, shallow-water, and frontier basin areas.

India’s 10th bidding round under the Open Acreage Licensing Programme offered 25 oil and gas blocks, mainly offshore. The bid deadline for this round was extended to 18 February 2026.