The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) convened a Data Driven Exploration conference under the Samudra Manthan – National Offshore Mission to engage industry on strengthening the data ecosystem for exploration. The event, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (M/o PNG), drew over 80 participants including national oil companies, global Exploration and Production (E&P) firms, private operators and seismic service and technology providers. The focus was offshore and frontier basin development and the role of seismic data in improving exploration outcomes.

The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, used social media to indicate that India is shifting from blind exploration to a multi-client model designed to broaden interpretation, innovation and discovery and thus reduce sector uncertainty. He framed Samudra Manthan as a mechanism to unlock offshore potential through openness, collaboration and advanced science to support energy Aatmanirbharta. The remarks reinforced government intent to foster a data driven approach.

Delegates agreed that availability, quality and accessibility of seismic data are primary determinants of exploration success and that data gaps in frontier and deepwater basins constrain prospectivity and investment. Reprocessing and reinterpretation of legacy datasets, combined with improved imaging and AI driven interpretation, were identified as immediate avenues to unlock value.

Participants urged targeted and accelerated seismic acquisition aligned with upcoming licensing rounds, noting that early data densification improves participation and investment outcomes. Multi-client seismic models were proposed as cost efficient accelerators, with a phased and calibrated application suited to basin maturity and existing data ownership. The role of government was seen as critical in providing policy clarity and predictability.

The government was presented as a key enabler through policy support, continued investment in data acquisition and strengthened data access frameworks such as the National Data Repository (NDR). Delegates also called for robust procurement and execution frameworks that combine quality and cost criteria and invite multiple service providers to ensure timely delivery.

Recommended next steps include finalising a prioritised seismic data acquisition roadmap focused on frontier and deepwater basins, initiating a structured programme for reprocessing and integrating existing datasets, and defining commercial frameworks that allow selective use of multi-client and hybrid models. Emphasis was placed on translating consensus into operational execution with time bound operationalisation. The conference reaffirmed that seismic data is the foundational lever for accelerating exploration participation and investment.