India to Launch New Exploration Drive for Undiscovered Oil and Gas Deposits

India to Reprocess Old Oil and Gas Data with Modern Technology

The Indian government has signaled a major push to explore oil and gas reserves within the country using modern technology. In a public notice issued on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas invited companies to participate in a large-scale exercise to reprocess old seismic data and carry out fresh 3D seismic surveys in sedimentary basins across the country.

The objective of this initiative is to enhance India's energy security and reduce dependence on imports, as stated in the notice. The government wants experts to revisit decades-old geological data using today's advanced imaging and interpretation tools to see if earlier surveys may have missed potential oil and gas reserves. This exercise is being coordinated by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), the technical arm of the petroleum ministry.

The move comes at a time when India remains heavily dependent on imported crude oil, with nearly 85% of the country's oil requirement met through imports. This makes energy security a constant concern for policymakers, especially during global conflicts and price shocks. The government has repeatedly stressed the need to increase domestic exploration and production to reduce vulnerability to global supply disruptions.

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Comparison of India's Oil Import Dependency

The latest notice suggests the government is preparing the ground for future exploration activity in multiple regions by first improving its understanding of underground reserves. The bidding document, which will be public from June 1, will contain details about locations, scope of work, and contract conditions.

This initiative marks the beginning of another attempt to identify untapped hydrocarbon potential inside India, something energy planners believe could become increasingly important in the years ahead. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, through the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), is inviting companies to reprocess old seismic survey data and carry out fresh 3D seismic surveys in potential oil and gas regions across India. The goal is to better understand underground hydrocarbon reserves, identify new oil and gas prospects, and strengthen India's energy security.

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