Government Plans to Drill 600 Exploration Wells in Next 4 Years – Joint Secy, MoPNG

The government plans to drill about 600 exploration wells over the next four years, including 240 deepwater wells, as the government combines fresh geoscientific data, regulatory reform and public risk-sharing to accelerate domestic oil and gas exploration.

Vinod Seshan, IAS, Joint Secretary - Exploration, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, said that the Samudra Manthan scheme represents the next step in a decade-long effort to make exploration more attractive and reduce risks for operators.

He said the planned 600 wells will create demand not only for operators but also for drilling contractors, technology companies, equipment manufacturers and oilfield service providers.

Seshan said oil and gas could continue to account for around 30-35 per cent of India’s energy mix even in 2047, making domestic exploration central to energy security despite the simultaneous expansion of renewables and other cleaner sources.