Oil India Limited has discovered natural gas in the Vijayapuram-3 offshore well located in the Andaman basin [1].
This discovery is a critical step in expanding India's offshore hydrocarbon portfolio. By increasing domestic production, the state-run company aims to bolster the nation's long-term energy security and reduce reliance on foreign imports [1], [2].
The find occurred in the Eocene formation at a depth of more than 1,900 metres [3]. The well is situated approximately 15 km off the Andaman coast within the Andaman offshore block [1].
This project represents the third exploratory well drilled by Oil India in the Andaman basin [1]. According to company data, two of the three wells drilled in the region have now confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons [2].
The exploration in the Andaman waters is part of a broader strategy to identify viable energy reserves in deep-water environments. The success of the Vijayapuram-3 well suggests that the geological formations in this specific block are promising for further extraction efforts [2].
“Oil India Limited has discovered natural gas in the Vijayapuram-3 offshore well.”
The confirmation of gas in two out of three exploratory wells indicates a high success rate for Oil India's Andaman campaign. This increases the likelihood that the basin contains commercially viable reserves, potentially shifting India's energy strategy toward more aggressive deep-water exploration to mitigate the volatility of global gas markets.
