Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India (OIL) are set to initiate a Rs 3,200 crore stratigraphic drilling campaign in early 2026, targeting untapped offshore basins to explore potential hydrocarbon reserves and reduce India’s import dependency.

In the first phase, four exploratory wells will be drilled in the deep-sea regions of the Andaman, Mahanadi, Saurashtra, and Bengal sedimentary basins. The campaign, focused on stratigraphic drilling, aims to collect geological data using techniques like continuous coring, seismic integration, and petrophysical logging to evaluate subsurface formations—without immediate plans for production.

Global energy major BP will provide technical expertise in site selection and drilling operations. Officials confirmed that the Indian government will reimburse ONGC and OIL for the campaign's costs, including payments to BP. This initiative is part of India's broader strategy to identify new energy resources and support future commercial exploration by building detailed geological profiles of unexplored offshore areas.