Oil India has discovered natural gas in the shallow waters of India’s Krishna-Godavari Basin, with testing at its Godavari-1 appraisal well also yielding condensate. Offshore Energy reported that the find was made in the previously unappraised Matsyapuri formation, adding a new discovery to the exploration and production company’s offshore hydrocarbon portfolio.
The well was drilled in block KG-DSF/GSKW/2018, which was awarded to Oil India as sole operator. According to company details carried by Offshore Energy, production testing of the zone began on 16 October 2026. Gas initially flowed to the surface at about 100,000 standard cubic metres a day, while continued testing achieved a maximum rate of 200,000 standard cubic metres a day. Those figures describe the flows recorded during the well’s production test.
The testing also yielded condensate at approximately 170 barrels a day, together with water. Oil India reported a condensate API gravity of 55.8 at 60°F and a wellhead pressure of 1,815 psi. These measurements accompanied the gas-flow results released by the company for the tested interval at Godavari-1, rather than a separate producing location in the offshore block.
Hydrocarbons were identified between depths of 2,024 and 2,027 metres within the selected pay zones, the report said. Preparations were under way to test the next zone higher up in the well. Oil India presented the Matsyapuri discovery as a significant advance in its search for hydrocarbons in the Krishna-Godavari block.
Separately, Offshore Energy noted that Dolphin Drilling’s Blackford Dolphin semi-submersible had received an extension at the end of summer to remain contracted to Oil India until 15 October 2026. The extension covered drilling, testing and abandonment work at locations east of India. The deepwater-capable rig, built in 1974, had started a 14-month hydrocarbon exploration campaign for Oil India in November 2024.