**Executive Summary**
This is a report answering Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 939, due on February 5th, 2026, regarding new oil and gas exploration blocks. It details the number of exploration blocks awarded in the last three years under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), the contribution of domestic production to reducing import dependence, and the progress made in deepwater and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration. The report also touches on policies that have improved the ease of doing business in the upstream sectors.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP):**
* Launched in 2016, it includes the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
* 38 exploration blocks under OALP Bid Rounds VIII and IX, covering 172,912.95 Square Kilometers have been awarded in the last three years.
* **Domestic Production & Import Dependence:**
* For the Financial Year 2024-25, India imported 243 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of crude oil.
* Domestic crude oil production was 28.7 MMT.
* Domestic natural gas production was 36.1 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM).
* The total quantum of crude oil and natural gas produced domestically contributes towards reducing import dependence
* **Policies for Ease of Doing Business:**
* Various policy decisions were taken, which include:
* Policy under Production Sharing Contract (PSC) regime for early monetization of Hydrocarbon discoveries, 2014;
* Discovered Small Field Policy, 2015;
* Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), 2016;
* Policy for Extension of PSCs, 2016 and 2017;
* Policy for early monetization of Coal Bed Methane, 2017;
* Setting up of National Data Repository, 2017;
* Approval of Un-appraised areas in Sedimentary Basins under National Seismic Programme, 2017;
* Policy to Promote/Incentivize Enhanced Recovery Methods of Oil/Gas 2018;
* Policy for exploration and exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons under Existing Fields, 2018;
* Lower Royalty Rates, Zero Revenue Share (till Windfall Gain) and no drilling commitment in Phase-I in OALP Blocks under Category II and III basins to attract bidders, 2019;
* Natural Gas Marketing Reforms, 2020;
* Release of about 1 Million Sq. Km. (SKM) “No-Go” area in offshore which were earlier blocked for exploration for decades, 2022;
* Revised Domestic Price Guidelines were issued in 2023;
* Amendments in the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 to promote ease of doing business, contractual stability, operational efficiency and faster dispute resolution, 2025;
* Notification of Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025.
* **Deepwater and Unconventional Hydrocarbon Exploration:**
* The Government has undertaken measures, including:
* Announcement of National Deepwater Exploration Mission under Samudra Manthan
* Appraisal of Un-appraised areas in Sedimentary Basins under National Seismic Programme, 2017.
* Release of about 1 Million Sq. Km. (SKM) ‘No-Go' area in offshore
* Approval of acquisition of additional 2D Seismic data of 20,000 LKM in onland and 30,000 LKM in offshore beyond Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.
* Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study (HRAS 2025) has been launched on 17.07.2025
* Award of 22 deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration blocks.
* National Gas Hydrate Programme (NGHP)
* 8 exploratory wells have been drilled in the Mahanadi, Cauvery, Krishna-Godavari (KG) and Andaman basins.
* 3 hydrocarbon discoveries have been notified in Mahanadi and Cauvery basins.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Government**
* **Impact:** Needs to track and manage the progress of the awarded blocks and measure the effectiveness of HELP and OALP in increasing domestic production and reducing import dependence.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring and refine policies to facilitate exploration and production of oil and gas.
**Stakeholder: Oil and Gas Companies**
* **Impact:** Required to execute exploration and production activities in the awarded blocks within the stipulated guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Commence exploration activities in awarded blocks and adhere to regulatory requirements to meet production targets.
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** Can expect potential benefits from increased energy security, reduced import costs, and economic growth.
* **Action Required:** Monitor government and company actions; and participate, when possible, in local forums regarding energy policy.
Key Entities Referenced
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP): A policy launched in 2016 to govern hydrocarbon exploration and licensing.
Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP): A policy started under HELP, which allows companies to select exploration blocks throughout the year.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The ministry responsible for the exploration, production, refining, distribution, marketing, import, export, and conservation of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025: Regulatory guidelines related to the petroleum and natural gas sector.
Jammu and Kashmir: A Union Territory where the application of oil and gas exploration blocks is mentioned.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 939
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05th February, 2026
New Oil and Gas Exploration Blocks
939. Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal:
Shri Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathva:
Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya:
Shri Dineshbhai Makwana:
Dr. Manna Lal Rawat:
Smt. Kamlesh Jangde:
Shri Lumbaram Choudhary:
Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato:
Shri Praveen Patel:
Smt. Aparajita Sarangi:
Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri:
Shri Jugal Kishore:
Dr. Hemang Joshi:
Shri Janardan Mishra:
Shri Khagen Murmu:
Shri Rajkumar Chahar:
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ी
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of new oil and gas exploration blocks awarded or made operational during the
last three years in the country, State/UT-wise, especially in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) the extent to which domestic production contributes towards reducing import dependence;
(c) the manner in which domestic crude oil and natural gas production levels have changed
during this period;
(d) whether ease-of-doing-business reforms have improved investment response in the
upstream sectors, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the progress made in deepwater and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration
ANSWER
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ालय म(cid:336) रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी
((cid:373)ी सुरेश गोपी)
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a): Government have launched Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) in
2016. Under this policy, Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) was started. During the last
three years, 38 exploration blocks under OALP bid Round VIII and IX covering 1,72,912.95
Square Kilometer in the country have been awarded. List of blocks awarded in offshore areas,
States and UTs is placed as Annexure I.None of the blocks awarded under these rounds fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
(b) & (c): For the Financial Year 2024-25, total import of crude oil was 243 Million Metric
Tonne (MMT). The total domestic production of oil was 28.7 MMT and that of gas was 36.1
Billion Cubic Meter (BCM). The entire quantum of crude oil and natural gas produced
domestically contributes towards reducing import dependence. The year-wise domestic crude
oil and natural gas production during the last three years is as follows:
FY 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Crude Oil (MMT) 29.2 29.4 28.7
Gas (BCM) 34.5 36.4 36.1
Source: Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH)
(d): Government has taken various policy decisions towards ease of doing business which
helped in boosting domestic crude oil and natural gas production and reduce dependency on
import of oil and gas which, inter alia, include:
i. Policy under Production Sharing Contract (PSC) regime for early monetization of
Hydrocarbon discoveries, 2014;
ii. Discovered Small Field Policy, 2015;
iii. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), 2016;
iv. Policy for Extension of PSCs, 2016 and 2017;
v. Policy for early monetization of Coal Bed Methane, 2017;
vi. Setting up of National Data Repository, 2017;
vii. Approval of Un-appraised areas in Sedimentary Basins under National Seismic
Programme, 2017;
viii. Policy to Promote/Incentivize Enhanced Recovery Methods of Oil/Gas 2018;
ix. Policy for exploration and exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons under Existing
Fields, 2018;
x. Lower Royalty Rates, Zero Revenue Share (till Windfall Gain) and no drilling
commitment in Phase-I in OALP Blocks under Category II and III basins to attract bidders,
2019;
xi. Natural Gas Marketing Reforms, 2020;
xii. Release of about 1 Million Sq. Km. (SKM) “No-Go” area in offshore which were earlier
blocked for exploration for decades, 2022;
xiii. Revised Domestic Price Guidelines were issued in 2023;
xiv. Amendments in the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 to promote ease
of doing business, contractual stability, operational efficiency and faster dispute resolution,
2025;
xv. Notification of Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025.
(e): Government have undertaken various policy measures for deep-water and
unconventional Hydrocarbon exploration which inter-alia include:
(i) Announcement of National Deepwater Exploration Mission under Samudra Manthan
with an objective to augment hydrocarbon resources and reserves and to enable their timely
conversion into production.(ii) Appraisal of Un-appraised areas in Sedimentary Basins under National Seismic
Programme, 2017.
(iii) Release of about 1 Million Sq. Km. (SKM) ‘No-Go’ area in offshore which were
blocked for exploration for decades in 2022.
(iv) Government have approved acquisition of additional 2D Seismic data of 20,000 LKM
in onland and 30,000 LKM in offshore beyond Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.
(v) Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study (HRAS 2025) has been launched on
17.07.2025 for resource assessment across all Indian sedimentary basins.
(vi) As on date, 22 deep water and ultra-deep water exploration blocks have been awarded
under various Open Acreages Licensing Policy (OALP) Bid Rounds. In these blocks, 8
exploratory wells have been drilled in the Mahanadi, Cauvery, Krishna-Godavari (KG) and
Andaman basins. As a result, 3 hydrocarbon discoveries have been notified in Mahanadi
and Cauvery basins.
(vii) National Gas Hydrate Programme (NGHP) had been launched by the Government for
exploration of Gas Hydrate in India. Till date, Two major expedition namely NGHP-01
(2006) and NGHP-02 (2015) have been completed.
*******Annexure I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 939 to be
answered on 05.02.2026 regarding “New Oil and Gas Exploration Blocks”.
Details of blocks awarded under OALP Bid Round VIII and IX
Sr No Block Name OALP Bid Round State
1 AS-ONHP-2022/1 VIII Assam
2 CB-ONHP-2022/1 VIII Gujarat
3 KG-UDWHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
4 MB-OSHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
5 GK-OSHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
6 GS-DWHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
7 MN-UDWHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
8 BP-OSHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
9 KK-DWHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
10 KK-OSHP-2022/1 VIII OFFSHORE
11 CY-UDWHP-2022/1 IX OFFSHORE
12 CY-UDWHP-2022/2 IX OFFSHORE
13 CY-UDWHP-2022/3 IX OFFSHORE
14 CB-ONHP-2022/2 IX Gujarat
15 GS-OSHP-2022/1 IX OFFSHORE
16 GS-OSHP-2022/2 IX OFFSHORE
17 AS-ONHP-2022/2 IX Meghalaya
18 AS-ONHP-2022/3 IX Meghalaya
19 GK-OSHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
20 GS-ONHP-2023/1 IX Gujarat
21 CY-UDWHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
22 GS-UDWHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
23 GS-UDWHP-2023/2 IX OFFSHORE
24 GS-OSHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
25 MB-OSHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
26 CB-OSHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
27 MB-OSHP-2023/2 IX OFFSHORE
28 GS-ONHP-2023/2 IX Gujarat
29 GS-ONHP-2023/3 IX Gujarat
30 CB-OSHP-2023/2 IX Gujarat
31 CB-ONHP-2023/1 IX Gujarat
32 CB-ONHP-2023/2 IX Gujarat
33 CB-ONHP-2023/3 IX Gujarat
34 MN-UDWHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
35 MN-UDWHP-2023/2 IX OFFSHORE
36 KG-UDWHP-2023/1 IX OFFSHORE
37 KG-UDWHP-2023/2 IX OFFSHORE
38 MN-UDWHP-2023/3 IX OFFSHORE