Viksit Bharat / Here's How Dharmendra Pradhan’s Tenure As Union Minister Put Odisha’s Mahanadi Basin On Exploration Map
·2 hours ago·4 min read
Key Points
ONGC struck natural gas in the MN-DW18-1-H-D well, about 43 km off the Konark coast, renewing focus on exploration initiatives undertaken during Dharmendra Pradhan's tenure as Union Petroleum Minister.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 22: The discovery of natural gas in a deepwater exploratory well in the Mahanadi offshore basin has brought renewed focus on the exploration initiatives undertaken in Odisha during Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure as Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) struck gas on September 18 in the MN-DW18-1-H-D well, located about 43 km off the Konark coast. The discovery is the latest development in years of exploration activity in the Mahanadi Basin, which received renewed attention during Pradhan’s tenure.
ONGC Office Opened In Bhubaneswar In 2015
Pradhan, who was then Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, inaugurated ONGC’s Odisha office in Bhubaneswar in May 2015.
The move was aimed at strengthening exploration activities in Odisha, particularly in the Mahanadi offshore area. During the same period, the Centre and ONGC stepped up efforts to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the basin through seismic surveys and exploration programmes.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) struck gas on September 18 in the MN-DW18-1-H-D well, located about 43 km off the Konark coast. The discovery is the latest development in years of exploration activity in the Mahanadi Basin, which received renewed attention during Pradhan’s tenure.
ONGC Office Opened In Bhubaneswar In 2015
Pradhan, who was then Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, inaugurated ONGC’s Odisha office in Bhubaneswar in May 2015.
The move was aimed at strengthening exploration activities in Odisha, particularly in the Mahanadi offshore area. During the same period, the Centre and ONGC stepped up efforts to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the basin through seismic surveys and exploration programmes.
📱 Get Argus News App
✨📰 60 Word News🎬 Argus Podcast📺 Live TV and Breaking News🔔 Free Notification Alerts
Download Free:
The latest discovery has now provided a significant development in that longer exploration journey.
Also Read: ONGC Strikes Natural Gas 43 Km Off Odisha Coast In Mahanadi Basin
National Seismic Programme Expanded Exploration
Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology at Utkal University, Kirti Ranjan Mallick, said Pradhan’s tenure saw several initiatives that expanded geological and seismic exploration in Odisha.
“The then Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, established the ONGC office in Bhubaneswar in 2015. The National Seismic Programme was also launched during his tenure, through which geological exploration was expanded and students of geology got opportunities to engage in related work,” Mallick said.
He said seismic studies were also carried out at Tapang in Khordha district.
The National Seismic Programme was launched by the Petroleum Ministry to generate seismic data and assess previously unappraised sedimentary areas for hydrocarbon exploration.
Kakatpur Campaign Added To Exploration Drive
The exploration push continued with a major seismic survey campaign at Kakatpur in Puri district.
Also Read: ONGC Strikes Natural Gas 43 Km Off Odisha Coast In Mahanadi Basin
National Seismic Programme Expanded Exploration
Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology at Utkal University, Kirti Ranjan Mallick, said Pradhan’s tenure saw several initiatives that expanded geological and seismic exploration in Odisha.
“The then Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, established the ONGC office in Bhubaneswar in 2015. The National Seismic Programme was also launched during his tenure, through which geological exploration was expanded and students of geology got opportunities to engage in related work,” Mallick said.
He said seismic studies were also carried out at Tapang in Khordha district.
The National Seismic Programme was launched by the Petroleum Ministry to generate seismic data and assess previously unappraised sedimentary areas for hydrocarbon exploration.
Kakatpur Campaign Added To Exploration Drive
The exploration push continued with a major seismic survey campaign at Kakatpur in Puri district.
In November 2020, Pradhan, then Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel, inaugurated Oil India Limited’s Rs 220-crore seismic survey campaign in the Mahanadi Basin.
The campaign covered five blocks and envisaged acquisition of 1,502 line km of 2D seismic data and 1,670 square km of 3D seismic data. The overall exploration programme for the five blocks was estimated at Rs 1,248 crore.
The campaign was aimed at generating geological and seismic data to facilitate further exploration and help identify hydrocarbon prospects in the basin.
Also Read: Paradip, India’s First Piped-Gas Port Township: Why Dharmendra Pradhan Was the Key Architect
Gas Struck 43 Km Off Konark
The latest ONGC well, MN-DW18-1-H-D, is the maiden well of the corporation’s current deepwater exploration campaign in the Mahanadi Basin under the government’s Samudra Manthan initiative.
The well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres and encountered gas in the 1,441-1,452-metre interval.
ONGC said the well is currently flowing gas at encouraging rates with sustained reservoir pressure. However, further appraisal and commercial evaluation are required to determine the size and commercial viability of the discovery.
‘Proud Moment For Odisha’s Geologists’
Mallick described the discovery as a significant moment for Odisha’s geological community.
“The discovery is a proud moment for all geologists from Odisha as it puts Odisha on the global map of deepwater natural gas exploration,” he said.
The discovery is located close to the Odisha coast, which ONGC said could offer potential for early monetisation, subject to further appraisal and commercial evaluation.
ONGC said the discovery could also be explored along with other finds in the area through shared facilities, a framework enabled by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025.
The campaign covered five blocks and envisaged acquisition of 1,502 line km of 2D seismic data and 1,670 square km of 3D seismic data. The overall exploration programme for the five blocks was estimated at Rs 1,248 crore.
The campaign was aimed at generating geological and seismic data to facilitate further exploration and help identify hydrocarbon prospects in the basin.
Also Read: Paradip, India’s First Piped-Gas Port Township: Why Dharmendra Pradhan Was the Key Architect
Gas Struck 43 Km Off Konark
The latest ONGC well, MN-DW18-1-H-D, is the maiden well of the corporation’s current deepwater exploration campaign in the Mahanadi Basin under the government’s Samudra Manthan initiative.
The well was drilled to a target depth of 1,623 metres and encountered gas in the 1,441-1,452-metre interval.
ONGC said the well is currently flowing gas at encouraging rates with sustained reservoir pressure. However, further appraisal and commercial evaluation are required to determine the size and commercial viability of the discovery.
‘Proud Moment For Odisha’s Geologists’
Mallick described the discovery as a significant moment for Odisha’s geological community.
“The discovery is a proud moment for all geologists from Odisha as it puts Odisha on the global map of deepwater natural gas exploration,” he said.
The discovery is located close to the Odisha coast, which ONGC said could offer potential for early monetisation, subject to further appraisal and commercial evaluation.
ONGC said the discovery could also be explored along with other finds in the area through shared facilities, a framework enabled by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025.
Related Topics
Explore more stories