New Delhi: The Centre is preparing for a major new effort to identify hidden oil and gas reserves across India by re-examining old geological data using advanced modern technology. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security and reducing dependence on imported crude oil.
In a public notice issued on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas invited companies to participate in a nationwide exercise involving the reprocessing of old seismic data and fresh 3D seismic surveys across sedimentary basins in different parts of the country.
The project will be coordinated by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), the technical arm of the petroleum ministry. Officials believe that modern imaging tools, high-end computing systems and improved data interpretation techniques can reveal oil and natural gas reserves that may have been missed in earlier surveys conducted decades ago.
Seismic surveys work by sending sound waves underground and studying their reflections to understand geological structures beneath the earth’s surface. Energy companies rely on these surveys to identify areas with potential hydrocarbon reserves before beginning drilling operations.
The fresh exploration push comes at a time when India imports nearly 85 percent of its crude oil requirements, making the country vulnerable to global price fluctuations and geopolitical tensions. Policymakers have increasingly focused on boosting domestic exploration and production to improve long-term energy security.
The move also follows plans for large-scale offshore surveys along India’s east coast, including the Purnea and Mahanadi Basin, Krishna-Godavari Basin, Cauvery Basin and Andaman Basin. These surveys are intended to assess whether commercially viable oil and gas reserves exist beneath the seabed.
Officials clarified that the latest initiative does not indicate the discovery of new reserves but marks the beginning of another large-scale attempt to identify untapped hydrocarbon potential across India.
The detailed bidding document outlining survey locations, project scope and contract terms is expected to be released from June 1.
