Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted India’s transition from “blind exploration” to data-driven discovery, stressing the importance of a collaborative data ecosystem. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons organized a conference on ‘Data Driven Exploration’ to enhance India’s exploration outcomes under the Samudra Manthan-National Offshore Mission. The event, led by Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, involved key industry stakeholders like BP, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Adani Welspun Exploration.
The conference focused on offshore and frontier basin development, particularly emphasizing the role of seismic data in driving exploration success. Minister Puri emphasized the significance of sharing knowledge for successful exploration outcomes, advocating for a multi-client data ecosystem to promote wider participation and innovation. Through initiatives like Samudra Manthan, India aims to unlock its offshore potential by fostering openness, collaboration, and advanced technologies for energy self-reliance.
Participants at the conference stressed the critical importance of seismic data quality, availability, and accessibility in determining exploration success. They highlighted the need for enhanced data coverage, especially in frontier and deepwater basins, to attract investment and boost exploration activities. The industry called for accelerated seismic data acquisition aligned with upcoming licensing rounds to encourage investor engagement and improve exploration efficiency.
The government’s role in strengthening the data ecosystem was underscored, with an emphasis on policy support, continued investment in data acquisition, and improved data access frameworks. Participants also emphasized the need for robust procurement and execution mechanisms, including engaging multiple service providers and adopting quality-cum-cost-based approaches to ensure timely and high-quality data acquisition.
