Frontiers of energy: how deepwater technology can accelerate India’s clean, secure future

India's energy future is unfolding at the intersection of geological potential, engineering prowess and ambitious climate targets. Strengthening domestic Exploration and Production (E&P) is no longer only a policy objective - it is a strategic imperative for a fast-growing economy.

Today, crude oil imports account for 88.2% of India’s demand in FY 2024-25, while domestic production averages a modest ~5.8 lakh barrels per day. This widening gap between demand and indigenous supply underscores an urgent national priority: maximising indigenous resource potential to safeguard energy security and insulate the economy from global volatility.

Samudra Manthan: the next great frontier in deepwater

Deepwater exploration represents one of the most demanding and consequential frontiers of the global energy industry. Typically beginning at depths of 400 metres and extending well beyond, success in these environments requires advanced geoscience, precision engineering and disciplined execution.

Technology becomes the decisive enabler: seismic imaging that reveals the unseen, intelligent drilling systems that respond in real time, and subsea architectures designed to endure extreme environments with efficiency and integrity – with focus on maximising recovery, accelerating delivery and managing risk with foresight, while upholding the highest standards of safety and environmental responsibility.

India’s deepwater journey, however, remains at an early stage. Of the nation’s 1.30 million square kilometres of deepwater area, nearly 1.15 million square kilometres remain unawarded, making it one of the world’s most significant untapped offshore opportunities. The Hon’ble Prime Minister’s announcement of Project Samudra Manthan, supported by policy reforms including the opening of previously restricted and no-go areas, has further expanded the exploration canvas and significantly enhanced the scale of opportunity.

And this opportunity matters. Each incremental barrel produced domestically strengthens energy security, while every additional molecule of indigenous gas supports India’s ambition of raising natural gas to 15% of the energy mix by 2030.

ONGC: experience that inspires confidence

ONGC’s deepwater journey is defined by perseverance, learning and sustained capability building. Over the past two decades, ONGC has drilled over 150+ deepwater wells across eight offshore basins along India’s Eastern and Western coasts (covering 11% of India’s deep water sedimentary basins), steadily expanding the nation’s offshore presence in some of the most challenging operating conditions.

This depth of experience is reinforced by ONGC’s long-term commitment to India’s offshore E&P programme, with ~68% of the awarded deepwater acreage under its stewardship. Execution on the ground continues to validate this commitment, as demonstrated by first oil from the KG-DWN-98/2 Cluster-2 ‘M’ Field in January 2024 and the subsequent ramp-up of additional wells - reflecting ONGC’s ability to deliver complex deepwater projects with speed, safety and technical rigour.

ONGC’s deepwater journey is therefore not aspirational - it is execution-led, aligned with national energy security priorities and fully supportive of India’s broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

From ambition to execution

Building on this execution momentum, a clear and scalable deepwater playbook is taking shape - focused on shortening the distance between discovery and cash flow, standardising subsea systems to unlock economies of scale, and leveraging digital intelligence to improve recovery while maintaining capital discipline.

As the countdown to India Energy Week 2026 begins, the opportunity is to demonstrate - not merely articulate - how ambition is converted into outcomes. ONGC is set to showcase how technology-led transformation is reshaping operational excellence across the energy value chain, guided by a modern operating philosophy that places safety, cost efficiency and lower-carbon operations on equal footing.

Technology, partnerships and low-carbon innovation will shape this journey, enabling growth that is resilient, responsible and aligned with national priorities.

ONGC stands ready to lead - with experience, scale and conviction - at the frontiers where India’s energy security and clean-energy transition converge.