On 16 June 2025, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India could hold the potential of “several Guyanas” in the Andaman and Nicobar region—highlighting vast, untapped oil and gas reserves. He revealed that India is on the verge of discovering nearly 2 lakh crore litres (1.84 trillion litres) of crude oil, a find comparable in scale to Guyana’s transformative offshore oil discoveries.
In this report, we highlight 12 major oil reserve discoveries made across India between 2018 and 2025. From the deep waters of the Andaman Sea to onshore fields in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, these discoveries represent a significant leap forward in India’s drive toward energy security and self-reliance.
#1 India Nears Game-Changing Oil Discovery in Andaman Sea
On 16 June 2025, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that India could be on the verge of a major oil discovery in the Andaman Sea—potentially holding 1.84 trillion litres of crude oil. Drawing parallels with Guyana’s transformative offshore find, Puri expressed optimism that India’s intensified exploration, led by ONGC, could deliver a similar economic boost. ONGC drilled 541 wells in FY24—a 37-year high—backed by reforms and record ₹37,000 crore capital spending. If confirmed, this discovery could significantly reduce India’s dependence on oil imports, which currently meet over 85% of domestic demand, and enhance national energy security.
#2 ONGC Strikes New Oil & Gas Reserves in Mumbai Offshore
On 25 May 2025, ONGC announced two major oil and gas discoveries—‘Suryamani’ and ‘Vajramani’—in the Mumbai Offshore basin under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). The Suryamani well yielded 2,235 barrels of oil and 45,181 cubic metres of gas per day, while Vajramani flowed 2,122 barrels of oil and 83,120 cubic metres of gas daily. Both discoveries are expected to boost domestic output in India’s most prolific energy zone. The finds were made in OALP-VI and OALP-III blocks. Additionally, ONGC discovered hydrocarbons in the Yandapalli-1 well in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin onshore, further enhancing India’s energy self-reliance.
#3 ONGC Discovers Oil and Gas in Krishna-Godavari Basin’s Onshore Block
On 25 May 2025, ONGC announced a new onshore oil and gas discovery in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin. The exploratory well Yandapalli-1, drilled to a depth of 3,958 metres in the Malleswaram PML block, revealed significant hydrocarbon reserves. The find has been classified as a “New Prospect Discovery,” strengthening India’s push for energy self-sufficiency. This discovery adds to ONGC’s recent offshore successes in the Mumbai basin—Suryamani and Vajramani—which also promise to boost domestic output.
#4 Cairn Partners with Parker Wellbore to Boost Oil Output in Rajasthan
On 1 April 2025, Cairn Oil & Gas, a Vedanta Group company, signed a strategic deal with Parker Wellbore (now part of Nabors Industries) to deploy a 2000 HP advanced drilling rig in Barmer, Rajasthan. This move supports Cairn’s goal to double its contribution to India’s crude oil output. The high-tech rig, featuring automated pipe handling and real-time monitoring, will enhance drilling safety and efficiency at Cairn’s largest onshore site. Announced during CERAWeek 2025, the partnership aligns with Cairn’s $5/bbl brownfield investment strategy aimed at tapping 5 billion barrels of reserves. Cairn currently contributes 25% of India’s domestic crude production and plans to explore unconventional resources like deepwater, tight oil, and shale.
#5 Historic Oil Discovery on Brahmaputra’s North Bank in Assam
On 4 April 2025, Oil India Limited (OIL) announced a landmark crude oil discovery at the Kobochapori-1 well on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam. Drilled to a depth of 4,334 metres in the geologically complex OALP Block AA-ONHP-2017/10, this is the first confirmed oil find beyond Upper Assam’s traditional oilfields. The breakthrough reveals a new petroleum system in the Upper Assam Shelf Basin, marking a major step in expanding hydrocarbon exploration in Northeast India. Using advanced seismic imaging and Airborne Gravity Gradiometry, OIL successfully unlocked deep sand reservoirs, despite the challenging riverine terrain.
#6 India Awards 28 Oil & Gas Blocks Under OALP-9, Eyes 1 Million Sq Km Exploration Goal
On 16 April 2025, India signed contracts for 28 oil and gas blocks under OALP-9 and two under a Special DSF Round, covering 1.36 lakh sq km across eight sedimentary basins. ONGC emerged as the top bidder, securing 11 blocks solo and four through partnerships, including a major win with Reliance and bp in Gujarat’s Saurashtra Basin. The Ministry also launched DSF Round-IV with 258.59 MMTOE in reserves and announced OALP-X, offering 25 blocks—over half in previously restricted “No-Go” zones. This expansion aligns with India’s 2030 target of exploring 1 million sq km. Private player Cairn Oil & Gas bagged seven new blocks, strengthening its 73,000 sq km portfolio. Backed by ₹7,500 crore in seismic surveys and cloud-based data access, India is accelerating exploration with a revamped regulatory framework under the updated Oilfields Act.
#7 Crude Oil Discovered in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh
On 27 March 2025, ONGC discovered a significant crude oil reserve near Sagarpali village in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, on land owned by the family of freedom fighter Chittu Pandey. The find follows a three-month Ganga basin survey, identifying reserves at a depth of 3,001 metres. ONGC has leased 6.5 acres from the Pandey family for three years at ₹10 lakh per annum. Drilling is expected to conclude by the end of April. If commercially viable, ONGC plans further exploration along a 300-km stretch from Ballia to Phaphamau in Prayagraj. This discovery could dramatically boost the local economy, offering significant compensation to farmers for land acquisition. The find adds to India’s growing domestic oil exploration efforts.
#8 ONGC Launches Oil Exploration in Bihar’s Samastipur
On 31 March 2025, ONGC began oil and gas exploration in Samastipur, Bihar, investing ₹35 crore to tap the underexplored Ganga Basin. This initiative, part of a 308 sq km project also covering Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, could unlock significant hydrocarbon reserves across Bihar, UP, and West Bengal. Success in Samastipur may drive broader exploration in the eastern region, long overlooked in India’s energy strategy. However, land acquisition challenges require strong local cooperation. The move supports India’s goal to expand exploration coverage to 1 million sq km by 2030 and reduce its 87% oil import dependency.
#9 Cairn Targets 50% of India’s Oil Output with Aggressive Expansion
On 20 February 2025, Cairn Oil & Gas (Vedanta Group) announced plans to boost its share of India’s oil and gas output to 50% by fast-tracking exploration across its 62 blocks. Cairn aims to drill 5–6 wells in the offshore Krishna-Godavari basin by 2026 and expand shale drilling in Rajasthan’s Barmer block. Activity is also intensifying in Gujarat and the Northeast. Cairn is deploying Controlled Source Electro-Magnetic (CSEM) technology to de-risk drilling and has plans to spud new wells in Jaya (Gujarat), Ravva (East Coast), and ultra-deepwater areas from OALP-X. The company is actively participating in OALP-IX and X rounds and anticipates regulatory reforms, including the Oilfields Amendment Bill, to open doors for international partnerships.
#10 First Oil Extracted from KG Basin’s Deep-Sea Project Near Kakinada
On 7 January 2024, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced India’s first oil extraction from ONGC’s deep-sea Block 98/2 in the Krishna-Godavari Basin, located 30 km off Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. The project, initiated in 2016–17, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has now operationalized four of its 26 wells. Production is expected to ramp up to 45,000 barrels per day by mid-2024, contributing approximately 7% each to India’s total crude oil and natural gas output. ONGC has completed Phase-2 and advanced to Phase-3, targeted peak production by June 2024.
#11 Natural Gas Discovery by Oil India in Assam’s Tinsukia
On 16 November 2020, Oil India Ltd (OIL) announced a significant natural gas discovery in the Dinjan-1 well, located within the Tinsukia petroleum mining lease in Assam’s Upper Assam Basin. The exploratory well encountered around 10 metres of hydrocarbon-bearing sands and tested at a production rate of 115,000 standard cubic metres per day. This find marks a key milestone in expanding natural gas exploration in Northeast India.
#12 ONGC Discovers Major Oil Reserves West of Mumbai High
On 1 January 2018, ONGC announced a major oil and gas discovery west of Mumbai High in the Arabian Sea through well WO-24-3 (WO-24-C). The find contains an estimated 30 million tonnes of in-place hydrocarbons across nine zones, all of which tested positive for oil and gas. One zone alone yielded 3,310 barrels of oil and 17,071 cubic metres of gas per day. This multi-layered deposit marks a significant expansion of upstream opportunities in the region. Production is expected to begin within two years, leveraging nearby infrastructure from the WO-16 field. The discovery is key to India’s energy strategy to reduce dependence on imports by boosting domestic production. Mumbai High already contributes 44% of India’s crude output, and ONGC planned to raise production from 25.5 million tonnes in 2016–17 to up to 29 million tonnes by 2020.
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