Bhubaneswar, Sep 22: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said a new energy story is taking shape in Odisha as the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has struck natural gas in a deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi offshore basin, about 43 km off the Konark coast.
Taking to social media site X, the Chief Minister said, “From the waters that have nourished Odisha for centuries, a new energy story is taking shape, carrying the promise of powering India’s tomorrow.”
“The Mahanadi has always been more than a river for Odisha. It is the lifeline of our land, a witness to our civilisational journey and a timeless symbol of our strength and prosperity. Today, its vast offshore basin is opening a new frontier, with ONGC striking gas in the deep waters off the Odisha coast,” he said.
He further said the encouraging flow from ONGC’s maiden deepwater well under the Samudra Manthan scheme marks a significant step in India’s deepwater exploration journey and unlocks new possibilities for harnessing our offshore resources.
For Odisha, this is not merely a discovery beneath the waters, but a moment that connects the state’s natural heritage with India’s emerging energy ambitions, the CM added.
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, India is steadily expanding its exploration frontiers and strengthening the foundations of an Atmanirbhar and energy-secure Bharat, he further stated.
The find was made on September 18 at a depth of 1,441–1,452m, with the well drilled to a total depth of 1,623m. The well, positioned around 43km from Konark, is the first to be drilled in the Mahanadi Basin as part of ONGC’s Samudra Manthan initiative.
The well was drilled to a target depth (TD) of 1,623 metres and encountered gas in the 1,441-1,452-metre interval.
