Breaking News For India: In what has been hailed as an important breakthrough in India’s Energy sector, Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister of Petroleum, announced that natural gas had been discovered in the Andaman Basin. The discovery confirms the scientific consensus that there are significant hydrocarbons in the Andaman Sea. It is a major step forward for India’s drive to achieve energy independence. The breaking news that India has been waiting for is about to change the face of offshore exploration.
Sri Vijayapuram-2, located about 9.20 nautical miles (17 km) away from the coast on the east coast of the Andaman Islands, was the site where the discovery took place. This well was located at 295 meters of water and reached the target depth of 2.650 meters. He said that the initial testing between 2212 and 2250 meters confirmed natural gas presence, as was shown by intermittent flaring. The gas samples sent to Kakinada were 87 percent methane. This confirmed the discovery.
Puri wrote on social media that “an ocean of opportunities for energy has emerged in the Andaman Sea.” While the commercial viability of the discovery and its size will be assessed in the months to come, he said that this is an important step. This discovery confirms that the Andaman Basin is rich in gas. It aligns with major discoveries made in other parts of the world, including Myanmar and Indonesia. The breaking news that India celebrates is a testament to its persistent exploration efforts.
The announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his National Deep Water Exploration Mission in his Independence Day speech was followed closely by this achievement. Samudra Manthan, the mission’s name, aims to aggressively explore oil and gas deposits in the ocean, strengthening India’s strategy towards energy independence. Amrit KAL is a milestone for India, according to Minister Puri. This discovery will help India advance its exploration goals and enable collaboration with deepwater experts around the world. To fully utilize the hydrocarbon resources of India, the government intends to drill a number of deepwater exploration wells offshore.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in India is responsible for exploration, production, and refining of oil, gas, and petroleum products. It also oversees marketing and distribution. The Ministry is dedicated to improving India’s energy independence and to sustainable energy to help support economic growth.
