Context: State-owned Maharatna company Oil India Limited (OIL) announced on June 5, 2026, that it has discovered natural gas in its third exploratory well, Vijayapuram-3, in the Andaman shallow offshore block.
About The Natural Gas Found In Andaman:
What It Is?
- It is a major marine offshore hydrocarbon discovery made during deep-earth drilling operations. Initial production testing established a continuous, pressurized flow of natural gas, proving the existence of an active petroleum system and a viable hydrocarbon accumulation pathway beneath the seabed of the Andaman microplate.
Location and Drilling Baseline:
- The Well: Named Vijayapuram-3 (Location: OAEB).
- Geographical Matrix: Positioned approximately 15 kilometers off the eastern coast of the Andaman Islands.
- Operational Depth: Drilled at a marine water depth of 355 meters, piercing down to a sub-seabed exploration depth of over 1,900 meters into the Eocene geological formation.
Older Natural Gas Centers in the Andaman Block:
This discovery is not isolated. It directly complements OIL’s first breakthrough in the exact same offshore block:
- Vijayapuram-2 (Location: OAEA): Natural gas was first struck in this second exploratory well on September 26, 2025. Out of the three exploratory wells drilled in the block so far, two have now formally confirmed commercial-grade hydrocarbon reserves.
Key Features of the Discovery Operation:
The architectural exploration framework of the Vijayapuram site combines direct drilling validation with advanced data analytics:
- Immediate Well Ignition: Post-perforation (the mechanical punching of holes in the well casing to allow fluids to enter), scientists recorded an instantaneous reservoir pressure build-up, pushing the natural gas smoothly to the surface without mechanical extraction assistance.
- Genesis and Calorific Mapping: OIL has initiated comprehensive gas sampling protocols. This involves isotope studies to map the gas’s exact organic genesis, gas composition analysis, and calculating its precise heating value (calorific value).
- 3D Seismic Remediation: Building on the previous 2025 discovery, OIL has successfully executed the collection of 600 square kilometers of high-resolution 3D seismic data.
- Data Reprocessing Moat: Engineers are currently blending this newly acquired 3D seismic map with older vintage 2D data to accurately construct a digital subterranean model of the asset before starting any appraisal well drilling.
