Oil India Limited (OIL) announced a natural gas discovery on 23 October 2026 in the shallow offshore block KG-DSF/GSKW/2018 in the Krishna-Godavari Basin. The discovery was made in the previously unappraised Matsyapuri formation through the Godavari-1 well, an appraisal well in the block operated solely by OIL.
Krishna-Godavari Basin
The Krishna-Godavari Basin is a sedimentary basin on India’s eastern coast, associated with the Krishna and Godavari river deltas and extending offshore into the Bay of Bengal. It is one of India’s hydrocarbon-bearing basins, with both onshore and offshore areas. The block where the discovery was made is classified as a Discovered Small Field block.
Godavari-1 Well and Test Results
The Godavari-1 well confirmed hydrocarbons at depths of 2,024 to 2,027 metres. Production testing began on 16 October 2026. The well initially produced natural gas at approximately 1 lakh standard cubic metres per day, with a maximum continuous flow rate of 2 lakh standard cubic metres per day. Testing also recorded condensate production of about 170 barrels per day. The condensate had an API gravity of 55.8 at 60°F, while the wellhead pressure was 1,815 pounds per square inch (psi). Preparations were under way on 23 October 2026 to test the next higher zone within the Matsyapuri formation.
Hydrocarbon Measurement and Field Development
Standard cubic metres per day is a measure of gas volume adjusted to defined standard conditions of temperature and pressure. A barrel is a standard unit of volume used for crude oil and condensate production. API gravity, developed by the American Petroleum Institute, expresses the relative density of petroleum liquids; higher values denote lighter liquids compared with lower values. An appraisal well is drilled to assess the extent and characteristics of a known hydrocarbon accumulation. Results from testing individual zones can provide information on their flow rates and fluid properties.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Krishna-Godavari Basin lies along India’s eastern coast and includes offshore areas in the Bay of Bengal.
- The Krishna and Godavari rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal.
- Oil India Limited was incorporated in 1959 and is a public sector company in the petroleum sector.
- API gravity is a scale used to express the relative density of petroleum liquids.
OIL is the sole operator of the KG-DSF/GSKW/2018 block. The next higher zone of the Matsyapuri formation was scheduled for testing after the initial test interval.
