Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, inaugurates the first appraisal well in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin. The event marks a significant step towards strengthening India's domestic production capability.
On July 25, 2026, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, inaugurated the commencement of drilling of the first appraisal well, MN-DWN18-1-HD, in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin. The Minister underscored the occasion as 'the beginning of a new chapter in India's journey towards energy security'. This drilling is part of a four-well programme aimed at systematically evaluating one of India's most prospective offshore basins.
The Ministry noted that the MN-DWN18-1-HD appraisal well being spudded today in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin represents the first of four planned deepwater wells. The drilling programme will employ world-class deepwater drilling technology to unlock new hydrocarbon resources.
Shri Puri emphasised that over the past decade, the Government has fundamentally transformed the exploration and production ecosystem through landmark policy and regulatory reforms. He highlighted the introduction of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), replacement of the nomination-based approach with the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP), adoption of a transparent Revenue Sharing framework, and the opening of nearly 99% of the erstwhile offshore 'No-Go' areas for exploration. He noted that nearly 81% of India's active exploration acreage has been awarded after 2014, reflecting the confidence these reforms have inspired among investors and explorers alike.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the progress achieved under the Government’s exploration reforms. Under OALP, 172 exploration blocks covering nearly 3.8 lakh square kilometres have been awarded with committed investments exceeding USD 4.3 billion. During FY 2025-26 alone, around 674 wells were drilled, five new discoveries were made and seven discoveries were monetised.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
