Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Friday that Oil India Limited discovered natural gas in an offshore exploratory well in the Andaman Islands [1, 2].
The find could strengthen India's domestic energy security and transform the region into a strategic energy hub. By reducing reliance on imported fuels, the discovery supports national goals for hydrocarbon self-sufficiency [1, 2].
The discovery occurred at the Sri Vijayapuram-3 well [3, 4], which is located approximately 15 km off the east coast of the Andaman Islands [3, 5]. This site represents the third exploratory well drilled in the Andaman shallow offshore block [6].
This is the second natural gas discovery in the Andaman offshore region [2, 7] and the second hydrocarbon find in the area [8].
Reports on the drilling depth vary between sources. Some records indicate the gas was found at a depth of 355 metres [9], while other reports state the drilling depth exceeded 1,900 metres [10].
Oil India Limited conducted the drilling operations to assess available domestic hydrocarbon resources [1, 2]. The company said it now plans to conduct further studies to determine the exact composition of the gas, and its commercial viability [1, 2].
“The find could strengthen India's domestic energy security.”
The repeated discovery of hydrocarbons in the Andaman shallow offshore block suggests the region may possess significant untapped reserves. While the commercial value depends on the volume and quality of the gas, these finds validate the strategic decision to explore the Andaman basin to mitigate energy import dependencies.
