Lok Sabha Question No. 4532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Ongoing Oil Exploration Projects
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4532

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2026

## ONGOING OIL EXPLORATION PROJECTS

4532.  ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  present  status  of  the  ongoing  oil  exploration  projects  in  the  country,  State/UT-wise along with the details of blocks awarded, discoveries made and the plans for their commercial exploitation;

(b)  whether  exploration  drilling  has  been  started  in  the  blocks  awarded  along  the  Kerala coast; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛमंũी (ŵी सुरे श गोपी)

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a): Hydrocarbon  Exploration,  which  includes  Oil  and  Gas  Exploration,  projects are implemented by entities, both public and private, as per the contractual agreement with the Government.  The  Government  had  launched  Hydrocarbon  Exploration  Licensing  Policy (HELP)  in  2016.  Under  HELP,  09  Open  Acreages  Licensing  Policy  (OALP)  Bid  Rounds have been completed so far. Under these rounds, a total of 172 blocks have been awarded to the successful bidders through International Competitive Bidding. The details of the ongoing oil  exploration  projects  in  the  country,  State/UT  wise  are  placed  as Annexure I .  Total  59 discoveries have been made since 2020-21 in these blocks. The details of discoveries made since 2020-21 are placed as Annexure II . The production timelines are contingent upon Field Development Plans (FDP) of the respective discoveries. Till date, FDP is received only for Jaya Discovery and the discovery is currently under production.

(b) & (c): One exploratory well (Kollam-1) was spudded on 29.11.2025 in block KK-OSHP2018/1 awarded under OALP bid round-III in Kerala offshore.

*****

ANNEXURE I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4532 for 19.03.2026 asked by ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH regarding ONGOING OIL EXPLORATION PROJECTS.

| State          | OALP           | OALP          |
|----------------|----------------|---------------|
|                | Block          | Year of Award |
| Andhra Pradesh | KG-ONHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
| Andhra Pradesh | KG-ONHP-2018/2 | 2019          |
| Andhra Pradesh | CD-ONHP-2020/1 | 2022          |
| Assam          | AA-ONHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
| Assam          | AA-ONHP-2018/3 | 2019          |
| Assam          | AA-ONHP-2019/1 | 2020          |
| Assam          | AA-ONHP-2019/2 | 2020          |
| Assam          | AS-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Assam          | AS-ONHP-2021/2 | 2022          |
| Assam          | AS-ONHP-2021/3 | 2022          |
| Assam          | AS-ONHP-2022/1 | 2024          |
| Meghalaya      | AS-ONHP-2022/2 | 2025          |
| Meghalaya      | AS-ONHP-2022/3 | 2025          |
| Bihar          | GV-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Bihar          | GV-ONHP-2021/2 | 2022          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2018/2 | 2019          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2018/3 | 2019          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2018/4 | 2019          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2019/1 | 2020          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2019/2 | 2020          |
| Gujarat        | GK-ONHP-2019/1 | 2020          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2020/1 | 2022          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2021/2 | 2022          |
| Gujarat        | GK-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Gujarat        | GS-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2022/1 | 2024          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2022/2 | 2025          |
| Gujarat        | CB-ONHP-2023/1 | 2025          |

| State          | OALP           | OALP          |
|----------------|----------------|---------------|
|                | Block          | Year of Award |
|                | CB-ONHP-2023/2 | 2025          |
|                | CB-ONHP-2023/3 | 2025          |
|                | GS-ONHP-2023/1 | 2025          |
|                | GS-ONHP-2023/2 | 2025          |
|                | GS-ONHP-2023/3 | 2025          |
| Madhya Pradesh | VN-ONHP-2019/1 | 2020          |
|                | VN-ONHP-2019/2 | 2020          |
|                | VN-ONHP-2019/3 | 2020          |
|                | VN-ONHP-2019/4 | 2020          |
|                | VN-ONHP-2019/5 | 2020          |
|                | SR-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Maharashtra    | NM-ONHP-2020/1 | 2022          |
| Nagaland       | AA-ONHP-2018/2 | 2019          |
| Odisha         | MN-ONHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
|                | MN-ONHP-2018/2 | 2019          |
|                | MN-ONHP-2018/3 | 2019          |
|                | MN-ONHP-2018/4 | 2019          |
|                | MN-ONHP-2018/5 | 2019          |
| Rajasthan      | RJ-ONHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
|                | RJ-ONHP-2018/2 | 2019          |
|                | RJ-ONHP-2019/1 | 2020          |
|                | RJ-ONHP-2019/2 | 2020          |
|                | RJ-ONHP-2019/3 | 2020          |
|                | RJ-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Tamil Nadu     | CY-ONHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
|                | CY-ONHP-2018/2 | 2019          |
| Tamil Nadu     | CY-ONHP-2018/3 | 2019          |
| Tripura        | AA-ONHP-2018/4 | 2019          |
|                | AA-ONHP-2018/5 | 2019          |
|                | AA-ONHP-2020/1 | 2022          |
|                | AA-ONHP-2020/2 | 2022          |
|                | AA-ONHP-2020/3 | 2022          |
|                | AA-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
|                | AA-ONHP-2021/2 | 2022          |
| West Bengal    | BP-ONHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
|                | BP-ONHP-2019/1 | 2020          |
|                | BP-ONHP-2019/2 | 2020          |
|                | BP-ONHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
| Offshore       | AN-OSHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
|                | AN-OSHP-2018/2 | 2019          |

| State    | OALP            | OALP          |
|----------|-----------------|---------------|
|          | Block           | Year of Award |
|          | GK-OSHP-2018/1  | 2019          |
|          | GK-OSHP-2018/2  | 2019          |
|          | KG-UDWHP-2018/1 | 2019          |
|          | MN-OSHP-2018/1  | 2019          |
|          | KK-OSHP-2018/1  | 2019          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2018/1  | 2019          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2018/2  | 2019          |
|          | MN-DWHP-2018/1  | 2019          |
|          | CY-UDWHP-2019/1 | 2020          |
|          | GS-OSHP-2019/1  | 2020          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2019/1  | 2020          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2020/1  | 2022          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2020/2  | 2022          |
|          | AN-UDWHP-2020/1 | 2022          |
| Offshore | AN-UDWHP-2020/2 | 2022          |
|          | CB-OSHP-2021/1  | 2022          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2021/1  | 2022          |
|          | CB-OSHP-2021/2  | 2022          |
|          | CY-UDWHP-2021/1 | 2022          |
|          | CB-OSHP-2021/3  | 2022          |
|          | KG-UDWHP-2022/1 | 2024          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2022/1  | 2024          |
|          | GK-OSHP-2022/1  | 2024          |
|          | GS-DWHP-2022/1  | 2024          |
|          | MN-UDWHP-2022/1 | 2024          |
|          | BP-OSHP-2022/1  | 2024          |
|          | KK-DWHP-2022/1  | 2024          |
|          | KK-OSHP-2022/1  | 2024          |
|          | CY-UDWHP-2022/1 | 2025          |
|          | CY-UDWHP-2022/2 | 2025          |
|          | CY-UDWHP-2022/3 | 2025          |
|          | GS-OSHP-2022/1  | 2025          |
|          | GS-OSHP-2022/2  | 2025          |
|          | GK-OSHP-2023/1  | 2025          |
|          | CY-UDWHP-2023/1 | 2025          |
| Offshore | GS-UDWHP-2023/2 | 2025          |
|          | GS-OSHP-2023/1  | 2025          |
|          | MB-OSHP-2023/1  | 2025          |
|          | CB-OSHP-2023/1  | 2025          |

| State   | OALP            | OALP          |
|---------|-----------------|---------------|
|         | Block           | Year of Award |
|         | MB-OSHP-2023/2  | 2025          |
|         | CB-OSHP-2023/2  | 2025          |
|         | MN-UDWHP-2023/1 | 2025          |
|         | MN-UDWHP-2023/2 | 2025          |
|         | KG-UDWHP-2023/1 | 2025          |
|         | KG-UDWHP-2023/2 | 2025          |
|         | MN-UDWHP-2023/3 | 2025          |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4532 for 19.03.2026  asked  by  ADV.  ADOOR  PRAKASH  regarding  major  ONGOING  OIL EXPLORATION PROJECTS.

## State wise list of Discoveries 2020-21 onwards

|   Sr. No. | Name of Discovery         | Operator   | Year    | State          | Nature    |
|-----------|---------------------------|------------|---------|----------------|-----------|
|         1 | KW2-Updip-1               | Vedanta    | 2020-21 | Rajasthan      | Oil       |
|         2 | KGD982NA-CHN-B#1 (AA)     | ONGC       | 2020-21 | offshore       | Gas       |
|         3 | AWEL-A-1                  | AWEL       | 2020-21 | offshore       | Gas       |
|         4 | Dinjan-1                  | OIL        | 2020-21 | Assam          | Gas       |
|         5 | Kunjban-13 (KUDD)         | ONGC       | 2020-21 | Tripura        | Gas       |
|         6 | Kavitam South-1 (KTAC)    | ONGC       | 2020-21 | Andhra Pradesh | Gas       |
|         7 | Sundulbari-16 (SDAP)      | ONGC       | 2020-21 | Tripura        | Gas       |
|         8 | BS-17-1 (BS-17-A)         | ONGC       | 2020-21 | offshore       | Oil &Gas  |
|         9 | B-126N-1 (B-126N-A)       | ONGC       | 2020-21 | offshore       | Oil &Gas  |
|        10 | GK-28-14 (GK-28-P)        | ONGC       | 2020-21 | offshore       | Gas       |
|        11 | WO-5-13 (WO-5-I)          | ONGC       | 2020-21 | offshore       | Oil &Gas  |
|        12 | Borhapjan-8               | OIL        | 2021-22 | Assam          | Oil       |
|        13 | Samdang-5                 | OIL        | 2021-22 | Assam          | Gas       |
|        14 | Jaya-1                    | Vedanta    | 2021-22 | Gujarat        | Gas       |
|        15 | Durga-1                   | Vedanta    | 2021-22 | Rajasthan      | Oil       |
|        16 | Mohini-1                  | Pan India  | 2021-22 | Gujarat        | Oil       |
|        17 | South Velpuru-2 (SVLAB)   | ONGC       | 2021-22 | Andhra Pradesh | Oil       |
|        18 | Gopawaram Deep-1 (GMD-AA) | ONGC       | 2021-22 | Andhra Pradesh | Gas       |
|        19 | VGN-1 (VGN-A)             | ONGC       | 2021-22 | offshore       | Oil &Gas  |
|        20 | SD-4-4 (SD-4-D)           | ONGC       | 2021-22 | offshore       | Oil &Gas  |
|        21 | FB-1                      | Vedanta    | 2022-23 | Gujarat        | Oil       |
|        22 | RE-7                      | Vedanta    | 2022-23 | offshore       | Oil       |
|        23 | Kankpul-1(K-WB-C)         | ONGC       | 2022-23 | West Bengal    | Gas       |
|        24 | RF-10                     | Vedanta    | 2022-23 | offshore       | Oil       |
|        25 | MBS171HAA-1               | ONGC       | 2022-23 | offshore       | Gas       |
|        26 | Mandapeta-60              | ONGC       | 2022-23 | offshore       | Gas       |
|        27 | Malleswaram-22            | ONGC       | 2022-23 | offshore       | Gas       |
|        28 | Kesanapalli West Deep-7   | ONGC       | 2022-23 | offshore       | Oil &Gas  |
|        29 | Karugorumilli-1           | ONGC       | 2022-23 | offshore       | Gas       |
|        30 | GS-15-22(AU)              | ONGC       | 2022-23 | offshore       | Gas       |
|        31 | Hatipoti-1                | ONGC       | 2022-23 | Assam          | Oil & Gas |
|        32 | Sesabill-1                | OIL        | 2022-23 | Assam          | Oil       |
|        33 | MBS182HDA-1 (Moonga)      | ONGC       | 2023-24 | offshore       | Oil       |

|   34 | MBS181HCA-1 (Moti)                 | ONGC    | 2023-24   | offshore       | Oil &Gas   |
|------|------------------------------------|---------|-----------|----------------|------------|
|   35 | Pukhraj (ST-6)                     | ONGC    | 2023-24   | offshore       | Oil &Gas   |
|   36 | Gopavaram-21 (GMDL)                | ONGC    | 2023-24   | Andhra Pradesh | Oil        |
|   37 | South Mahadevapatinam-2            | ONGC    | 2023-24   | Andhra Pradesh | Gas        |
|   38 | Chitbari-1 (GOAI_Sub)              | ONGC    | 2023-24   | Assam          | Gas        |
|   39 | Talamura-3 (TMAB)                  | ONGC    | 2023-24   | Tripura        | Gas        |
|   40 | East Lakhibari-6 (ELDA)            | ONGC    | 2023-24   | Assam          | Oil        |
|   41 | MDW-27 (Utkal)                     | ONGC    | 2023-24   | offshore       | Gas        |
|   42 | West Amod#1                        | ONGC    | 2023-24   | Gujarat        | Oil        |
|   43 | MDW-26 (Konark)                    | ONGC    | 2023-24   | offshore       | Gas        |
|   44 | South Baghjan-10                   | OIL     | 2023-24   | Assam          | Oil        |
|   45 | RANAGHAT                           | ONGC    | 2024-25   | West Bengal    | Gas        |
|   46 | PURN-1                             | ONGC    | 2024-25   | Gujarat        | Oil        |
|   47 | MBS191HDA-1 (Neelmani)             | ONGC    | 2024-25   | offshore       | Gas        |
|   48 | CHOLA-1                            | ONGC    | 2024-25   | offshore       | Gas        |
|   49 | Rudra                              | Vedanta | 2024-25   | Assam          | Oil        |
|   50 | West Matar-2 (MRAX)                | ONGC    | 2024-25   | Gujarat        | Oil &Gas   |
|   51 | Chandramani (B-56-2)               | ONGC    | 2024-25   | offshore       | Gas        |
|   52 | Yandapalli-1 (YPAA)                | ONGC    | 2024-25   | Andhra Pradesh | Oil &Gas   |
|   53 | Mechaki-6                          | OIL     | 2024-25   | Assam          | Oil        |
|   54 | Mechaki-7                          | OIL     | 2024-25   | Assam          | Gas        |
|   55 | Vajramani (MBS202HAA-1)            | ONGC    | 2025-26   | Offshore       | Oil & Gas  |
|   56 | Suryamani, Object-I (MBS202HAA-1)  | ONGC    | 2025-26   | Offshore       | Oil        |
|   57 | Suryamani, Object-II (MBS202HAA-1) | ONGC    | 2025-26   | Offshore       | Oil        |
|   58 | NRB-2 (NOAB)                       | OIL     | 2025-26   | Offshore       | Oil        |
|   59 | MBS191HCA-1                        | ONGC    | 2025-26   | Offshore       | Gas        |