India's state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has reported a series of promising hydrocarbon discoveries in the Mumbai Offshore basin under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), signaling potential future boosts to domestic energy production. The discoveries, named Suryamani and Vajramani, include high-yield wells capable of producing thousands of barrels of oil and significant volumes of natural gas daily. These offshore finds, along with a new onshore strike in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin, underscore ONGC’s strategic push to enhance energy self-reliance amid the country's heavy reliance on imported oil and gas.
Strategic Discoveries in Mumbai Offshore Basin
ONGC, India’s largest oil and gas exploration company, has made notable new discoveries in the prolific Mumbai Offshore basin. These were achieved through drilling operations in two OALP-awarded blocks—MB-OSHP-2020/2 under OALP-VI and MB-OSHP-2018/1 under OALP-III.
One of the key finds, from exploratory well MBS202HAA-1 in Block MB-OSHP-2020/2, yielded an initial flow of 2,235 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 45,181 cubic metres of gas per day during tests conducted in the fourth quarter of FY2024–25. This successful output, attributed to the Basal Clastics formation, led to the well being classified as a New Prospect Discovery and named Suryamani.
Subsequently, a second zone in the same well—within the Mukta Formation—was tested and delivered 413 bpd of oil and 15,132 cubic metres of gas per day. The Mukta interval was officially designated as a New Pool Discovery, further strengthening the potential of the Suryamani prospect.
Vajramani: Another Milestone in Exploration
In a separate OALP-III block—MB-OSHP-2018/1—exploratory well MBS181HNA-1 achieved a production rate of 2,122 bpd of oil and 83,120 cubic metres of gas per day. The hydrocarbon-bearing zone lies within a fault-bounded structural feature in the western part of the block. This success was documented as a New Prospect Discovery under the name Vajramani.
Both discoveries signify material additions to India’s offshore energy portfolio, reinforcing the strategic value of the OALP framework in enabling operators like ONGC to tap previously unexplored or underexplored basins.
Mumbai Offshore: Backbone of India’s Hydrocarbon Output
The Mumbai Offshore region remains India’s most critical hydrocarbon-producing zone. It is home to the iconic Mumbai High oilfield, located approximately 160 kilometers off the country’s western coast in the Arabian Sea. Mumbai High alone contributes around 1,34,000 barrels of oil per day, accounting for nearly 35% of India’s domestic oil output.
In addition to Mumbai High, the basin hosts major gas-producing assets such as the Bassein and Satellite fields, along with other significant installations including Heera, Neelam, and Panna-Mukta. Together, these fields produce approximately 10 million standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) of natural gas—roughly 18% of the nation’s gas output.
Given India’s reliance on imports for over 85% of its oil and nearly 50% of its gas consumption, any expansion in domestic production is viewed as vital for energy security.
New Onshore Find in the Krishna-Godavari Basin
Beyond offshore assets, ONGC also reported a fresh onshore discovery in the Krishna-Godavari Basin. The exploratory well Yandapalli-1, drilled to a depth of 3,958 metres in the Malleswaram Petroleum Mining Lease (PML), encountered both oil and gas reserves. This success was formally declared a New Prospect Discovery, bolstering the hydrocarbon potential of the KG onshore acreage.
While the company has yet to provide a timeline for commercial development of these new assets, their cumulative impact is expected to support ONGC’s production targets and contribute to reducing India’s dependence on energy imports.
Conclusion
ONGC’s latest hydrocarbon discoveries in both offshore and onshore basins underscore a renewed momentum in India's upstream energy sector. With rising energy demands and volatile global crude prices, these finds—though in early stages—hold significant long-term promise. The Suryamani and Vajramani prospects in particular offer substantial output potential, while the KG Basin addition adds to ONGC’s diverse exploration footprint. As India seeks to secure its energy future, these developments could prove pivotal in achieving greater resource self-sufficiency and reinforcing national energy resilience.
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