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India discovers a huge natural gas reserve in Andaman
India has confirmed the presence of a significant natural gas reserve in the Andaman basin, enhancing the country’s energy security and self-reliance.
Petroleum Minister confirms India's newly found natural gas reserve
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the discovery on Friday, calling it 'an ocean of energy opportunities’.
"This occurrence of natural gas will be a significant milestone in our journey through Amrit Kaal," the Petroleum Minister said.
The gas was discovered in the Sri Vijayapuram-2 well, located about 17 km from the Andaman coastline at a water depth of 295 metres and drilled to a target depth of 2,650 metres.
According to Minister Puri, initial testing between depths of 2,212–2,250 metres has indicated the presence of natural gas with intermittent flaring.
Samples transported to Kakinada for analysis showed 87 per cent methane content, confirming the quality of hydrocarbons.
“The size of the gas pool and its commercial viability will be verified in the coming months,” Puri said, stressing that the discovery validates India’s long-held belief that the Andaman basin is rich in natural gas, in line with discoveries in Myanmar and Indonesia along the same geological belt.
An ocean of energy opportunities opens up in the Andaman Sea!
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) September 26, 2025
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
PM Modi's announcement on Samudra Manthan
The discovery comes following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of the National Deep Water Exploration Mission, termed 'Samudra Manthan,' during his Independence Day address.
The mission aims to expand oil and gas exploration in offshore basins and speed up India’s push for energy self-reliance.
Puri shared that the discovery will strengthen India’s ability to partner with global deepwater exploration leaders like Petrobras, BP India, Shell, and ExxonMobil.
Earlier, in February, the Ministry of Earth Sciences said, "the deep-sea exploration includes biodiversity, survey and mineral resources. Apart from the benefits of scientific research and technological empowerment, this mission has immediate spin-offs in underwater engineering innovations, asset inspection and the promotion of ocean literacy."