India has experienced a significant increase in oil and gas exploration, especially in offshore regions, following the opening of nearly 1 million square kilometers of ‘No-Go’ offshore areas for exploration in 2022. This development has unveiled extensive new opportunities, particularly in deepwater and frontier regions such as the Andaman-Nicobar (AN) offshore basin. The initiative has provided unprecedented access for exploration and serves as a crucial driver of the recent surge in offshore activities. Since 2015, Exploration and Production (E&P) companies operating within India have reported a total of 172 hydrocarbon discoveries, with 62 of these occurring in offshore locations. The A&N basin is situated at the convergence of the Andaman and Nicobar Basins, which are part of the Bengal-Arakan sedimentary system. The geological potential of the basin is further enhanced by its closeness to established petroleum systems in Myanmar and North Sumatra. Global interest in the A&N basin has been revitalized following notable gas discoveries in the South Andaman offshore region of Indonesia, underscoring the geological continuity throughout this area. The true advancement has stemmed from the region’s opening and the execution of a new exploration strategy, which includes proactive seismic acquisition, the commencement of stratigraphic and exploratory drilling, and heightened collaboration with international stakeholders.
The government identified significant potential for oil and gas in the Andaman and Nicobar
