Oil India Discovers Natural Gas Reserves in Andaman Basin

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that Oil India Ltd has discovered natural gas reserves in the Andaman basin, confirming the long-held belief that the Andaman Sea is rich in hydrocarbons.

Discovery Details

• Gas reserves found in Sri Vijayapuram 2 well, about 9.20 nautical miles (17 km) from the east coast of the Andaman Islands.
• Located at a water depth of 295 metres and target depth of 2,650 metres.
• Initial production testing in the depth range of 2,212 – 2,250 metres confirmed natural gas presence with intermittent flaring.

Policy and Exploration

• The block was won under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
• Exploration efforts are jointly being pursued by Oil India Ltd and ONGC in the Andaman Sea.

Strategic Importance

• India currently meets 88% of oil needs and 50% of gas requirements through imports.
• The discovery could reduce import dependence and boost domestic energy security.
• The Andaman Sea, a marginal sea of the northeastern Indian Ocean, is considered a frontier hydrocarbon exploration region.