Bhubaneswar: Marking a significant step in India’s push to strengthen energy security, govt-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has discovered natural gas in the deep waters of the Mahanadi Basin off Odisha coast.The find was made at MDW-28, the first well drilled under ONGC’s ongoing deep-water exploration programme in the basin. The well has shown encouraging gas flow and steady reservoir pressure, suggesting the presence of a commercially promising gas-bearing structure.In a statement issued on Monday, ONGC said the well was perforated on Sept 18 after detailed analysis of geological and geophysical data. Soon after the operation, gas began flowing at a healthy rate, supported by stable reservoir pressure.The drilling campaign began on July 25, 2026, when Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the operations by spudding the MDW-28 well, also identified as MN-DW18-1-H-D, in the offshore Mahanadi Basin. The exploration drive is part of the Centre’s Samudra Manthan initiative, which seeks to fast-track offshore oil and gas exploration and production.Terming it a major milestone for India’s offshore energy exploration, Puri said the discovery, along with other finds in the area, opens up the potential for cluster development through shared facilities under the PNG Rules, 2025, providing a pathway to bring deep-water resources into production more efficiently.ONGC said its senior leadership, including chairman Arun Kumar Singh, director of technology and field services Vikram Saxena and director of exploration Om Prakash Sinha, visited the drillship during the campaign to assess progress and engage with the operating team.The company said the discovery, together with other finds in the area, may be developed using shared infrastructure under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025. This model could improve the economics of deep-water projects and enable quicker monetisation of offshore resources.ONGC added that it remains focused on expanding exploration in deep-water and ultra-deep-water areas to identify new hydrocarbon reserves.