India is on the cusp of a significant energy transformation, spurred by a series of promising new oil reserve discoveries across its vast and varied landscape. From the deep, unexplored waters of the Andaman Sea to crucial inland finds spanning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, these breakthroughs represent a pivotal moment in the nation’s ongoing pursuit of energy self-reliance. This strategic push to unlock domestic hydrocarbon potential is set to significantly reduce India’s long-standing reliance on crude oil imports, bolstering its energy security and charting a new course for economic growth and stability.
Over the past five years (2018-2025), India has seen 12 substantial oil reserve discoveries, all of which are compiled in this report.
India poised for potential “massive” oil find in Andaman Sea
June 16, 2025 – India is reportedly on the cusp of a potentially transformative oil discovery in the Andaman Sea, with early estimates suggesting reserves could hold an astounding 184,440 crore litres of crude. This optimistic outlook is fueled by intensified exploration efforts, with ONGC drilling at its highest level in 37 years. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri even suggested this find could rival Guyana’s prolific offshore reserves, signalling a significant boost to India’s energy independence and economic trajectory if successful.
ONGC announces “Suryamani” and “Vajramani” discoveries offshore Mumbai
May 25, 2025 – ONGC has announced two significant offshore oil and gas discoveries, ‘Suryamani’ and ‘Vajramani,’ in the Mumbai Offshore basin under the OALP (Open Acreage Licensing Policy) regime. The Suryamani well demonstrated promising flows of up to 2,235 barrels per day of oil and 45,181 cubic metres per day of gas. Similarly, the Vajramani well yielded 2,122 barrels per day of oil and 83,120 cubic metres per day of gas. These new finds are expected to bolster domestic output from one of India’s most productive energy regions.
ONGC strikes oil and gas in Krishna-Godavari Basin’s onshore well
May 25, 2025 – In another development, ONGC has reported fresh oil and gas reserves in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin. The discovery was made through its onshore well, Yandapalli-1, which was drilled to a depth of 3,958 metres in the Malleswaram PML (Petroleum Mining Lease) block. Classified as a “New Prospect Discovery,” this find further enhances India’s potential for increasing domestic hydrocarbon production from its eastern region.
Cairn partners with Parker Wellbore to boost Rajasthan oil exploration
April 1, 2025 – Cairn Oil & Gas, part of the Vedanta Group, recently signed a key contract with Parker Wellbore (now acquired by Nabors Industries) to deploy a high-performance 2000 HP drilling rig in Barmer, Rajasthan. This strategic move aims to significantly accelerate exploration and production at Cairn’s largest onshore asset. The advanced rig, equipped with automated systems and real-time monitoring, is set to enhance both operational safety and efficiency. Announced at CERAWeek 2025, this partnership supports Cairn’s ambitious goal of doubling its crude production share in India and adds momentum to its USD5/bbl brownfield investment plan, which targets 5 billion barrels of reserves.
Crude oil discovered on Brahmaputra’s north bank in Assam
April 4, 2025 – Oil India Limited (OIL) has made a historic crude oil discovery at the Kobochapori-1 well on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Assam. This marks a significant find, as it is the first such discovery beyond Upper Assam’s traditional oilfields. Drilled to a depth of 4,334 meters in a geologically complex zone, the breakthrough confirms a new petroleum system in the Upper Assam Shelf Basin. While the commercial potential is still being assessed, this discovery signals a major expansion in Northeast India’s hydrocarbon exploration efforts.
India awards 28 oil & gas blocks under OALP-9, expands exploration footprint
April 16, 2025 – In a significant push toward energy self-reliance, India has signed contracts for 28 oil and gas blocks under OALP-9, along with two Discovered Small Field (DSF) blocks. This expands the nation’s exploration footprint to 1.36 lakh square kilometres across eight sedimentary basins. ONGC emerged as the top bidder, securing 11 blocks individually and four more through partnerships, including a key win in Gujarat’s Saurashtra Basin with Reliance and bp. The government also launched DSF Round-IV, covering 258.59 MMTOE reserves, and announced the upcoming OALP-X round, which will offer 25 blocks. Notably, 51% of these new blocks lie in previously restricted “No-Go” zones, bringing India closer to its 2030 target of 1 million square kilometres of exploration coverage.
Crude oil discovered in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh
March 27, 2025 – A significant crude oil reserve has been discovered near Sagarpali village in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, on land historically belonging to the family of freedom fighter Chittu Pandey. Following a three-month survey of the Ganga basin, ONGC identified these reserves at a depth of 3,001 metres. The company has since leased 6.5 acres of land for three years at an annual cost of Rs 10 lakh. This discovery holds the potential to transform the local economy. Drilling is expected to conclude by the end of April, with plans for further wells across a 300 km stretch to Phaphamau in Prayagraj, if commercially viable reserves are confirmed.
Oil exploration begins in Samastipur, Bihar
March 31, 2025 – ONGC has launched a new oil and gas exploration project in Samastipur, Bihar, aiming to unlock the hydrocarbon potential of the underexplored Ganga Basin. With an initial investment of Rs 35 crore, this project spans a portion of the 308 sq km exploration area shared with the Ballia discovery site. Success here could pave the way for further exploration across Bihar and West Bengal, significantly boosting India’s energy security. However, the project faces challenges related to land acquisition, requiring community co-operation for smooth operations.
Cairn aims to fast-track exploration and secure 50 per cent of India’s oil output share
February 20, 2025 – Cairn Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Vedanta, has announced ambitious plans to accelerate exploration in both existing and new oil blocks, with the ultimate goal of contributing 50 per cent to India’s total oil and gas output. Cairn intends to drill 5–6 wells in its offshore Krishna-Godavari basin block by 2026 and expand its shale exploration efforts in Rajasthan. The company is also ramping up activity in the Northeast and Gujarat and plans to participate actively in the upcoming OALP IX and X rounds. Currently controlling 62 blocks, Cairn is leveraging advanced technologies like CSEM and looks to capitalise on forthcoming regulatory reforms to explore new partnerships and scale its operations.
Centre announces first oil extraction from Krishna-Godavari deep-sea project
January 7, 2024 – Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri confirmed the first oil extraction from a deep-sea project 30 km off the coast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, in the Krishna-Godavari Basin. This project, which commenced in 2016-17 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, currently has four out of its 26 wells operational. By mid-2024, the output is projected to reach 45,000 barrels per day, contributing 7 per cent each to India’s crude oil and natural gas production. ONGC’s Block 98/2 is now nearing its final stage of development.
Oil India discovers natural gas in Assam’s Tinsukia
November 16, 2020 – Oil India Ltd (OIL) announced the discovery of natural gas in its Dinjan-1 well, located within the Tinsukia petroleum mining lease in Assam’s Upper Assam Basin. The well encountered approximately 10 meters of hydrocarbon-bearing sands and was tested at a production rate of 115,000 standard cubic meters per day. This discovery is anticipated to open new avenues for exploration and contribute to boosting future gas production in the region.
ONGC unearths major oil reserves west of Mumbai High
January 1, 2018 – ONGC reported a significant new oil and gas reserve discovery in the Arabian Sea, situated west of Mumbai High. The find was made through well WO-24-3 (WO-24-C). This multi-layered deposit is estimated to hold about 30 million tonnes of in-place hydrocarbons, with all nine tested zones yielding both oil and gas. Notably, one zone alone flowed 3,310 barrels per day of oil and 17,071 cubic metres per day of gas. Production from this discovery was expected to commence within two years, leveraging existing infrastructure and supporting India’s drive for energy self-reliance.
These 12 significant oil reserve discoveries, spanning the diverse geological basins of India from the deep Andaman Sea to the inland stretches of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, collectively signal a transformative era for the nation’s energy landscape. Spearheaded by concerted efforts from entities like ONGC, Oil India Limited, and Cairn Oil & Gas, these breakthroughs are not merely isolated finds but represent a strategic and aggressive push towards unlocking India’s domestic hydrocarbon potential. By consistently augmenting its reserves and production capabilities, India is steadily moving towards a future of enhanced energy self-reliance, reducing its import dependency, and fortifying its economic resilience on the global stage. This comprehensive exploration drive underscores a firm commitment to securing India’s energy future and charting a new trajectory for sustainable growth.
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