Samudra Manthan: A Technology-Driven Approach to Offshore Exploration
India has approved Samudra Manthan – the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore for implementation up to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to strengthen domestic hydrocarbon exploration by combining advanced technologies, scientific investigations and modern offshore infrastructure.
India's offshore sedimentary basins are estimated to contain more than 5,600 Million Metric Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE) of hydrocarbon resources. However, exploration in deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions remains technically complex, requiring high-quality geological data, advanced imaging technologies and specialised drilling capabilities.
Samudra Manthan adopts a technology-driven approach to offshore exploration by supporting large-scale 2D and 3D seismic surveys, scientific drilling and modern data interpretation techniques. The scheme also proposes the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for processing and interpreting seismic datasets, enabling more accurate identification of hydrocarbon prospects.
Key components of the scheme include:
- Acquisition, processing and interpretation of high-resolution seismic data
- Drilling of 60 deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory wells
- Scientific drilling in frontier offshore basins
- Development of shared offshore production and evacuation infrastructure
- Establishment of an integrated Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone
- Digital programme management, capacity building and technology adoption
The scheme is expected to support the addition of more than 600 MMTOE of hydrocarbon reserves and increase annual domestic oil and gas production. It also seeks to strengthen indigenous technological capabilities, promote domestic manufacturing under Make in India, and encourage innovation across the offshore exploration value chain.
By integrating geoscience, digital technologies and advanced offshore engineering, Samudra Manthan represents a significant step towards expanding India's offshore exploration capabilities while supporting long-term energy security and technological self-reliance.
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