State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has entered into a strategic agreement with global energy major BP to drill multiple stratigraphic wells across India’s Category II and III offshore sedimentary basins, aiming to enhance the country’s energy security through improved geological understanding and exploration of untapped hydrocarbon resources.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed, in the presence of Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, during the Urja Varta 2025 event. The collaboration covers exploration activities in offshore basins including the Andaman, Mahanadi, Saurashtra, and Bengal regions.
According to ONGC’s official post on X, the partnership is expected to unlock significant hydrocarbon potential through drilling of stratigraphic wells—deep, data-driven test wells used to understand subsurface geological formations.
‘This is one of the initiatives that we have been talking about for some time… called stratigraphic wells,’ said Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. ‘This is the first in a series of such initiatives. ONGC has taken the leap to tie up with BP in terms of well design, well location, and geological interpretation. ONGC will be investing funds, and BP will contribute its expertise.’
Stratigraphic wells are non-commercial test wells drilled to gather critical geological data, which can later inform commercial drilling operations. These initiatives are considered crucial for exploring India’s less-studied offshore sedimentary basins.
Kartikeya Dube, Head of Country for BP India and Senior Vice President, BP Group, highlighted the significance of the collaboration. ‘We believe drilling of new stratigraphic wells will be very valuable and can lead to new understanding and potential. BP’s experience in deepwater exploration, supported by advanced seismic technologies, would be of great assistance during the evaluation and subsequent drilling of these wells,’ he stated.
The MoU signals a renewed push by the Indian government to expand energy exploration by leveraging international expertise, aligning with its broader energy security and self-reliance goals.
