OIL and ONGC Sign Joint Operating Agreement for Three OALP-IX Blocks

13 Aug 2025 CW Team

Oil India (OIL) and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) have signed a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) for three exploration blocks awarded under the OALP Bid Round IX, covering a total area of about 10,965 sq. km.

The blocks include:

MN-UDWHP-2023/1 (Mahanadi Basin): Located in the ultra-deep waters of the Bay of Bengal with bathymetry beyond the 2,500-metre isobath.
AS-ONHP-2022/2 (Assam Shelf Basin): Situated southwest of Meghalaya in one of the most challenging exploration terrains, offering new hydrocarbon prospects.
CB-ONHP-2022/2: Onshore block in the Cambay Basin.

The signing ceremony took place on August 12, 2025, at Deendayal Upadhyay Urja Bhavan, New Delhi. The agreement was signed by Anup Kumar, Executive Director (E&D), OIL, and Dinesh Singh, Chief (Exploration JV & BD), ONGC, in the presence of senior officials from both companies.

This collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening the synergy between the two national oil companies to advance hydrocarbon exploration, enhance energy security, and support sustainable growth in India’s energy sector.

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