State-run Oil India Ltd. (OIL) has discovered natural gas in its exploratory well Vijayapuram-2, drilled in the Andaman Shallow Offshore Block AN-OSHP-2018/1 under India’s Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
Preliminary tests confirmed gas inflow, validating the presence of natural gas, while advanced gas isotope studies are underway to assess its origin and maturity. OIL hailed the find as a milestone discovery — the first hydrocarbon indication in its current Andaman campaign.
The company believes the occurrence signals the presence of a source rock, migration pathways, or hydrocarbon accumulation, and further evaluations are being carried out on higher prospects of the well to gauge its full potential.
The discovery comes as ONGC continues ultra-deepwater drilling in the Andaman offshore but has yet to disclose results. Analysts say the find strengthens India’s push to unlock the frontier Andaman Basin, which, if commercially viable, could reduce import dependence and boost domestic gas supplies.
