The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has unveiled a seven-year plan under the Samudra Manthan programme to accelerate deepwater exploration. The plan commits to drilling 150 deepwater wells over seven years in alignment with the National Offshore Exploration Scheme that shares the same timeline. The move is intended to reduce exploration risks and to attract investment while boosting domestic oil and gas production to strengthen energy security. Officials positioned the programme as a step to reduce import dependence. Exploration activity will be spearheaded by the DeepX unit, a mission-mode team of more than 30 experts to work with advanced technologies and global specialists. DeepX will adopt a one company, one data approach intended to consolidate subsurface information and to fast-track decision making on prospects. The operator has identified nearly 5,600 mn t of oil equivalent (MMTOE) as deepwater and ultra-deepwater potential to guide prioritisation of acreage and rigs. The target figure is central to planning for appraisal and development campaigns. ONGC has reported recent discoveries such as Utkal and Konark in the Mahanadi offshore region and is drilling another exploratory well around 23 nautical miles from Konark off the Odisha coast. The company remains focussed on maintaining its role as the primary source of offshore drilling capacity and on building indigenous deepwater capabilities. The initiative aims to unlock new reserves and to accelerate development of discoveries while creating conditions to attract private and foreign investment. Authorities have framed the mission as vital for strategic resilience given past disruptions to Gulf supplies. Officials said the plan will support capability building through partnerships with global specialists and through technology transfer to Indian firms. The programme expects to coordinate rig allocation and to streamline approvals to meet the seven-year timeline. Observers noted that the success of the effort will depend on sustained funding and effective project management.