Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 26 September 2025
Oil India Limited (OIL) has announced the first occurrence of hydrocarbons in its ongoing exploration campaign in the Andaman offshore basin. The company reported that natural gas has been encountered in its second exploratory well, Vijayapuram-2, drilled in the Shallow Offshore Block AN-OSHP-2018/1.
The block was awarded to OIL under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), aimed at encouraging domestic exploration and production. According to the company, preliminary testing at the Vijayapuram-2 well has confirmed the presence of natural gas. However, OIL noted that further studies are underway to understand the genesis of the find and assess its potential.
“This marks the first reported hydrocarbon occurrence in the Andaman exploration campaign. Oil India remains committed to advancing exploration in the region to strengthen India’s energy future,” the company said in its official statement.
The discovery is significant as the Andaman basin is considered a frontier area with limited exploration history. A confirmed hydrocarbon find could open new avenues for energy security and reduce dependence on imports, aligning with the government’s broader vision of self-reliance in the energy sector.
Oil India Limited, India’s second-largest national oil company, is engaged in exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas in several parts of the country. The Andaman find marks a key step in its efforts to expand exploration to new and challenging geographies.
