+
ONGC Explores Drillship Acquisition For Deepwater Capacity
OIL & GAS

ONGC Explores Drillship Acquisition For Deepwater Capacity

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is exploring the acquisition of deepwater drillships or the formation of a joint venture to secure dedicated drilling capacity under its Mission Samudra Manthan programme. The company has issued an expression of interest to hire a specialist global offshore rig broking consultant to identify potential drillship owners, assess assets and valuations, and advise on negotiating an ownership or joint venture arrangement. The initiative aims to create priority access to deepwater drillship capacity to accelerate offshore exploration.

The Union Cabinet approved the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, known as Samudra Manthan, with an outlay of Rs 840.84 bn through 2030-31, the EOI said. The central scheme envisages drilling of 60 deepwater exploration wells, large scale seismic surveys, common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure, and an Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone to support domestic production and lower import dependence.

Under the scheme the government will provide financial support of up to 50 per cent of the cost of deepwater exploration wells, subject to a cap of Rs 6.75 bn per well. ONGC noted that India lacks domestic capacity to build deepwater drillships and currently relies on foreign owned rigs typically engaged through time charters, prompting consideration of ownership or a joint venture model.

The consultant engagement is structured in two phases, with an initial three month phase for identifying and shortlisting counterparties and establishing an indicative commercial basis, followed by a second phase of up to six months covering negotiations, documentation, financing coordination and transaction closure. The EOI requests market intelligence on owners with floaters rated for water depths of 1,500 metres or more and experience in drillship and semi submersible transactions over the past seven years, and mentions potential structuring through a GIFT City special purpose vehicle (SPV).

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is exploring the acquisition of deepwater drillships or the formation of a joint venture to secure dedicated drilling capacity under its Mission Samudra Manthan programme. The company has issued an expression of interest to hire a specialist global offshore rig broking consultant to identify potential drillship owners, assess assets and valuations, and advise on negotiating an ownership or joint venture arrangement. The initiative aims to create priority access to deepwater drillship capacity to accelerate offshore exploration. The Union Cabinet approved the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, known as Samudra Manthan, with an outlay of Rs 840.84 bn through 2030-31, the EOI said. The central scheme envisages drilling of 60 deepwater exploration wells, large scale seismic surveys, common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure, and an Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone to support domestic production and lower import dependence. Under the scheme the government will provide financial support of up to 50 per cent of the cost of deepwater exploration wells, subject to a cap of Rs 6.75 bn per well. ONGC noted that India lacks domestic capacity to build deepwater drillships and currently relies on foreign owned rigs typically engaged through time charters, prompting consideration of ownership or a joint venture model. The consultant engagement is structured in two phases, with an initial three month phase for identifying and shortlisting counterparties and establishing an indicative commercial basis, followed by a second phase of up to six months covering negotiations, documentation, financing coordination and transaction closure. The EOI requests market intelligence on owners with floaters rated for water depths of 1,500 metres or more and experience in drillship and semi submersible transactions over the past seven years, and mentions potential structuring through a GIFT City special purpose vehicle (SPV).

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

NCC Founder and Padma Shri Awardee AVS Raju Passes Away at 89

Dr Alluri Venkata Satyanarayana Raju, founder and Chairman Emeritus of NCC Limited and a Padma Shri awardee, passed away in Hyderabad on 13 October 2026. He was 89.Born on 18 April 1937 in Antarvedipalem village in Andhra Pradesh's erstwhile East Godavari district, Raju began his entrepreneurial journey in 1956. He established Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) Limited in 1978, which subsequently emerged as one of India's leading construction and infrastructure companies.Under his leadership, NCC became a public limited company in 1990 and expanded into one of India's prominent listed constr..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Embraer to Acquire 51 Per Cent Stake in Mahindra Aerospace Arm

Brazilian aerospace major Embraer will acquire a 51 per cent equity stake in Novavayu Aerospace, a step-down subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, under an Investment Agreement notified by the automobile company in an exchange filing. The transaction will give Embraer control of the aerospace business. Following completion of the acquisition, Novavayu Aerospace will cease to be a wholly owned subsidiary and become an associate of Mahindra Defence Systems, which is a step-down wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra. The agreement is expected to be completed on or before December 1. Mah..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

RBI Opens Special Dollar Window for Three State-Run OMCs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opened a special facility to meet the entire daily US dollar requirements of three public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs), in a move aimed at easing pressure on the Indian rupee. The facility will take effect on October 12, 2026, and remain available until further notice. Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation are eligible to use the arrangement. Under the facility, the RBI will sell US dollars to the three companies through designated banks, allowing them to meet their oil-import payments without sourc..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code