Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced a significant breakthrough in India’s energy exploration on Friday, revealing that a substantial natural gas find has been made in the Andaman Sea. The discovery is being seen as a crucial step toward boosting India’s deepwater energy capabilities and moving closer to energy self-reliance.
Location and Depth of the Discovery
The discovery was made at the Sri Vijayapuram 2 well, located 17 kilometers from the east coast of the Andaman Islands. The well is positioned at a water depth of 295 meters, with a target drilling depth of 2,650 meters, indicating India’s increasing focus on deepwater exploration.
Initial Testing and Methane Content
Puri shared that initial production testing conducted between 2,212 and 2,250 meters confirmed the presence of natural gas, with intermittent flaring observed. Gas samples were sent to Kakinada for analysis, which revealed a methane concentration of 87%.
He stated, “The size of the gas pool and commercial viability of the discovery will get verified in the coming months but establishing the presence of hydrocarbons in the Andaman basin is a major step in confirming our long held belief that Andaman basin is rich in natural gas, in line with discoveries in the entire area from Myanmar in North to Indonesia in the south in this belt.”
An ocean of energy opportunities opens up in the Andaman Sea!
Very happy to report the occurrence of natural gas in Sri Vijayapuram 2 well at a distance of 9.20 NM (17 km) from the shoreline on the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 295 meters and target depth… pic.twitter.com/4VDeGtt8bt— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) September 26, 2025
Significance for India’s Energy Goals
The discovery is crucial as India seeks to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce dependence on imported energy, which currently makes up around 85% of the country’s requirements. Once commercially viable, this natural gas find could enhance energy self-reliance and strengthen India’s standing in global deepwater exploration.
Alignment with the Deepwater Mission
Puri emphasized that this find supports the government’s deepwater mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to explore offshore hydrocarbon reserves through multiple deepwater wells.
He added, “This occurrence of natural gas will help us in taking forward our exploration ambitions in coordination with global deepwater exploration experts like @petrobras, @bp_india, @Shell, @exxonmobil and will be a significant milestone in our journey through Amrit Kaal!”
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