Highlighting a decade of progress, Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India has achieved 172 hydrocarbon discoveries since 2014, of which 62 are in marine areas.
He emphasised that the expansion of exploration into previously untapped regions reflects the government’s commitment to boosting energy self-sufficiency.
The minister attributed this surge in discoveries to Prime Minister Modi’s ‘bold and transformative’ decision to open up nearly one million square kilometres of offshore areas once classified as ‘No-Go’ zones.
Taking to X, Puri posted, “Under the guidance of PM @narendramodi ji, 172 hydrocarbon discoveries have been made in the past decade, of which 62 are in offshore areas.”
“Now this number will increase even faster because we are now venturing into areas for exploration where no one has gone before. Areas that were once under the ‘No Go’ zone,” the post added.
Puri further noted, “Modi ji’s bold decision on these no-go areas is giving exploration & production a new height.”
PM @narendramodi जी के मार्गदर्शन में बीते एक दशक में 172 hydrocarbon discoveries हुई हैं, जिनमें 62 समुद्री इलाकों में हैं।
अब यह आंकड़ा और तेजी से बढ़ेगा क्योंकि अब हम उन क्षेत्रों में भी खोज के लिए जा रहे हैं, जहाँ पहले कभी नहीं हुए। जो कभी ‘No Go’ एरिया के तहत आता था।
इन… pic.twitter.com/Qh130iMeF9
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 3, 2025
Puri informed Parliament that the opening of these areas in 2022 has sparked a surge in deepwater and frontier exploration activities.
Key among these is the Andaman-Nicobar offshore basin, which holds immense geological potential due to its tectonic setting and sedimentary systems.
Geological Significance of the AN Basin
The AN Basin, part of the Bengal-Arakan sedimentary system, sits at the convergence of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates.
This unique setting has created stratigraphic traps ideal for hydrocarbon accumulation. Its proximity to proven petroleum systems in Myanmar and North Sumatra further enhances its potential.
Following significant gas finds in the South Andaman offshore Indonesia, the AN offshore basin has gained renewed global attention.
Puri noted that the geological continuity between these regions underscores India’s prospects for major hydrocarbon discoveries in the near future.
India is strengthening its energy security by expanding exploration into once-restricted zones and boosting offshore activities.
Puri affirmed that the government’s policies are unlocking vast untapped reserves, signalling a new era for the nation’s oil and gas sector.
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