Oil India discovers gas Andaman

India has made its second natural gas discovery in the Andaman offshore region at the Vijayapuram-3 exploratory well, located 15 kilometers off the eastern coast of the India — Andaman Islands. This follows an earlier discovery at Vijayapuram-2 in September 2025. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the find, emphasizing its role in enhancing India's energy security. Initial production testing confirmed the presence of natural gas, indicating favorable reservoir characteristics. The discoveries are seen as a major achievement for India's offshore exploration sector, particularly in the relatively unexplored Andaman Basin, which shares geological similarities with hydrocarbon-rich regions in Southeast Asia. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Samudra Manthan Mission, aimed at maximizing India's hydrocarbon resources. India plans further appraisal and collaboration with global deepwater exploration experts like Petrobras, TotalEnergies, BP, Shell plc, and ExxonMobil to assess commercial viability and develop the basin's potential, ultimately reducing India's dependence on imported oil and gas.