Oil India strikes natural gas in Andaman offshore block, confirms hydrocarbon presence in 3rd exploratory well
New Delhi, June 5
State-owned Maharatna company Oil India Limited on Friday announced a fresh discovery of natural gas in its third exploratory well in the Andaman shallow offshore block, marking another significant indication of hydrocarbon presence in the region.
The company said the Vijayapuram-3 (Loc. OAEB) well, drilled under the Offshore Andaman Block AN-OSHP-2018/1 as part of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), is located around 15 kilometres off the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 metres.
The drilling was carried out at a depth of over 1,900 metres in the Eocene formation.
In a regulatory filing to the exchanges, the company stated that initial production testing of the well confirmed the presence of natural gas, with continuous flaring observed after perforation.
The well also showed immediate pressure build-up, followed by production of gas.
"Oil India Limited is pleased to announce the presence of natural gas in its 3rd exploratory well Vijayapuram-3 (Loc. OAEB), drilled 15 km oƯ the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 meters in the OƯshore Andaman Block AN-OSHP-2018/1 under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP)," it said in its filing.
Oil India Limited said that gas sampling is currently underway to assess the composition and calorific value of the discovery, along with isotope studies to understand the origin of the hydrocarbons.
This marks the second confirmed hydrocarbon presence in the Andaman offshore block, after gas was earlier discovered in the second exploratory well, Vijayapuram-2 (Loc. OAEA), in September 2025.
Out of the three exploratory wells drilled so far in the block, two have now indicated hydrocarbon presence.
The company described the latest find as a "leading indicator" of a possible source, migration pathway, or accumulation of hydrocarbons in the area, which is expected to help refine its future exploration strategy.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting development. However, I hope they're conducting proper environmental impact assessments. The Andaman Islands are ecologically sensitive, and we must balance energy needs with conservation.
Good to see OIL exploring new frontiers. With ONGC also active in KG basin, Indian energy sector is really stepping up. But I hope the government ensures local islanders benefit from this discovery through jobs and development. 🤞
Is 15 km offshore enough to avoid coastal impact? Andaman is a biodiversity hotspot. While energy independence is important, I'd like to see independent ecological audits and transparent data sharing before celebrating.
Finally some good news! 🇮🇳 2 out of 3 wells showing gas - that's promising. India should accelerate domestic production to shield from global price volatility. Well done OIL team! 👏
Two confirmations in three wells - statistically quite good! But OIL should work faster. We need gas for our economy, especially for fertilizer and power sectors. Hope they begin commercial production soon without harming marine life.
Promising but cautious optimism needed. Hydrocarbon exploration in remote regions often faces logistical hurdles. Let's see the gas quality and quantity results before getting too excited. Still, good step for India's
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