Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has taken a significant step to strengthen India’s deepwater exploration campaign. The company has placed the Notice of Award (NOA) for hiring a second ultra-deepwater drillship. The new vessel, identified as DDKG2, is expected to mobilise within the next 3-4 months. This move marks a major expansion of ONGC’s offshore drilling capabilities.
Second Ultra-Deepwater Drillship Builds on Mahanadi Success
ONGC’s first ultra-deepwater rig is already active in the Mahanadi Basin. The rig is currently drilling a deepwater well in the region. This ongoing operation has given ONGC valuable operational experience in ultra-deepwater conditions. The addition of a second drillship will build on this foundation. It will allow the company to run parallel exploration campaigns across multiple offshore blocks. This, in turn, will accelerate the pace of discovery and development in India’s deepwater basins.
Ultra-deepwater drilling requires specialised vessels capable of operating in extreme ocean depths. These drillships can access reserves that conventional rigs cannot reach. By deploying a second unit, ONGC strengthens its technical capacity to explore some of India’s most challenging and potentially lucrative offshore zones.
Strategic Push Under Samudra Manthan Scheme
This expansion forms part of ONGC’s broader push to unlock India’s offshore hydrocarbon potential. The company aims to reinforce national energy security through deeper offshore exploration. These efforts fall under the Government of India’s Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme. The scheme aims to harness the vast energy resources lying beneath the country’s seas.
India has historically relied heavily on imported crude oil to meet domestic demand. Offshore basins such as the Mahanadi, Krishna-Godavari and Andaman regions hold significant untapped potential. Government and industry experts view deepwater exploration as central to reducing this import burden. ONGC’s expanded drillship capacity directly supports this national objective.
Ultra-Deepwater Drillship Fleet Strengthens Long-Term Capacity
By expanding its ultra-deepwater drillship fleet, ONGC is intensifying exploration in challenging offshore environments. The company is positioning itself to unlock reserves in geologically complex zones that were previously difficult to access. This capacity expansion also supports ONGC’s long-term production targets. It strengthens the company’s role in India’s energy security roadmap.
The mobilisation of DDKG2 within the next few months will mark a key milestone in this journey. With two ultra-deepwater rigs operational, ONGC will significantly scale up its offshore exploration footprint. The move underscores the company’s commitment to reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic energy supplies for the years ahead.
