India Launches Major Offshore Oil and Gas Survey in Bay of Bengal and Adjoining Basins

Key Facts

• The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) is conducting a major offshore seismic survey covering approximately 161,000 line kilometres over nearly two years.
• The survey focuses on six key offshore sedimentary basins: Bengal Offshore Basin, Mahanadi Basin, Krishna-Godavari Basin, Cauvery Basin, Saurashtra Basin, and Andaman Basin.
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) have planned a stratigraphic drilling campaign scheduled to commence in early 2026, targeting four deep-sea wells located in the Andaman, Mahanadi, Saurashtra, and Bengal sedimentary basins.
• The Andaman Basin is a frontier offshore area considered geologically prospective due to similarities with proven gas-producing regions in Myanmar and Indonesia, lying at the tectonic boundary of the Indian and Burmese plates.
• In 2022, the Government of India opened nearly one million square kilometres of previously restricted offshore "No-Go" areas spanning the west coast, east coast, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands for exploration activities.
• The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) and the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) govern India's exploration, licensing, and bidding frameworks, allowing companies to select and bid for exploration blocks, with continuous bidding rounds.
• The 10th bidding round under OALP was launched with 25 oil and gas blocks mainly offshore; the bid submission deadline has been extended to 18 February 2026.

Background & Context

Offshore sedimentary basins in India represent significant hydrocarbon potential crucial for addressing the country's energy needs. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, part of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, drives comprehensive geophysical surveys, including seismic and stratigraphic drilling, to identify and evaluate prospective hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Seismic surveys use sound waves to map underground rock layers and identify possible hydrocarbon traps, while stratigraphic drilling collects core samples to validate geological models before commercial drilling is undertaken. The India National Gas Hydrate Program has previously confirmed gas hydrate presence in eastern offshore sedimentary basins such as the Krishna Godavari and Mahanadi basins.

The Andaman Basin, lying in ultra-deep waters and located at the junction of Indian and Burmese tectonic plates, is considered an exploratory frontier region. Encouraging geological data and discoveries in adjacent regions of Myanmar and Indonesia amplify the basin’s exploration significance.

Policy reforms including the opening of offshore areas formerly restricted for exploration have stimulated increased activity and global interest. The HELP framework and OALP allow for liberalized, investor-friendly licensing with flexible bidding mechanisms, fostering heightened exploration efforts.

Why This Matters for Exams

Understanding India’s offshore exploration initiatives is vital for competitive exams focusing on current affairs, energy policy, and economic development. Candidates should familiarize themselves with the names and locations of offshore sedimentary basins, key government agencies like DGH, ONGC, and Oil India, and recent policy reforms such as the opening of restricted offshore areas in 2022.

Knowledge of technical terms such as seismic survey and stratigraphic drilling, as well as the timelines like the 2026 planned drilling campaign and the OALP bid submission deadline of 18 February 2026, are also important. These topics link to broader themes of India’s energy security and resource management strategies.

Points to Remember

• DGH’s offshore seismic survey spans 161,000 line kilometres focusing on six sedimentary basins.
• ONGC and Oil India will conduct four deep-sea stratigraphic wells starting early 2026 to validate petroleum systems.
• The Andaman Basin is a frontier ultra-deepwater basin with promising geology linked to regional petroleum systems.
• Near one million sq. km. of previously no-go offshore areas were opened for exploration in 2022, stimulating increased activity.
• HELP and OALP frameworks provide the regulatory and bidding mechanisms for exploration and production activities.
• The 10th OALP bidding round comprises 25 blocks mainly offshore with an extended bid deadline in February 2026.