New Delhi: Oil India Ltd (OIL) has reported another natural gas discovery in the Andaman basin in a significant development in the government’s offshore exploration efforts and raising expectations that the region could emerge as one of the country’s most promising new hydrocarbon frontiers.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that natural gas has been found in Sri Vijaya Puram-3 exploratory well, located 15 km off the east coast of Andaman Islands at a depth of 355 metres.
“Initial production testing of the well at the depth of 1900-plus metres in the Eocene formation has established the presence of natural gas through continuous flaring. Oil India is carrying out gas sampling to assess the composition & calorific value of gas and to carry out isotope studies to understand the genesis of the gas,” Puri said in a post on X.
As part of the Centre’s ‘Samudra Manthan Mission’ (National Deep Water Exploration Mission), this is OIL’s second hydrocarbon discovery in its ongoing exploration campaign in the Andaman Basin. It has now reported the presence of hydrocarbons in two out of three exploratory wells drilled so far.
Congratulations @OilIndiaLimited !
An ocean of energy opportunities reinforced in the Andaman Sea!
Very happy to report the presence of natural gas in Sri Vijayapuram-3 an exploratory well drilled by Oil India Ltd. 15 km off the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water… pic.twitter.com/j6QvWqZkFx
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 5, 2026
OIL’s earlier Sri Vijaya Puram-2 gas find was announced last year, when the presence of natural gas with approximately 87% methane content was confirmed after testing. That discovery was seen as proof that the Andaman Basin contains an active petroleum system similar to hydrocarbon-rich regions stretching from Myanmar to Indonesia.