State-owned company Oil India Limited has made a new natural gas discovery in its third exploratory well in the Andaman shallow offshore block. The well, named Vijayapuram-3 (Loc. OAEB), is situated around 15 kilometers off the east coast of the Andaman Islands at a water depth of 355 meters. This drilling, conducted in the Eocene formation at a depth exceeding 1,900 meters, has confirmed the presence of natural gas through initial production testing.
The company reported that continuous flaring of natural gas was observed after perforation, along with immediate pressure build-up and subsequent gas production. Oil India Limited is currently conducting gas sampling to evaluate the composition and calorific value of the discovery, as well as isotope studies to determine the hydrocarbons’ origin. This discovery marks the second instance of confirmed hydrocarbon presence in the Andaman offshore block, following a previous gas discovery in the second exploratory well, Vijayapuram-2 (Loc. OAEA), in September 2025.
Out of the three exploratory wells drilled in the block so far, two have now indicated the presence of hydrocarbons. The company views this latest discovery as a significant indication that could help in refining its future exploration strategy by providing insights into potential sources, migration pathways, or hydrocarbon accumulations in the region.
