The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has awarded two contracts to the Norwegian geoscience and technology firm Shearwater Geoservices AS for conducting 3D seismic surveys along India’s coasts. The contracts involve the deployment of two high-capacity 3D vessels; one will survey the West coast over a nine-month period, while the other will cover the East coast within six months. Both projects are slated to commence in early Q4 of 2026 and are expected to conclude in 2027.
Marine seismic surveys utilize ships to map geological structures beneath the seabed, aiming to identify potential locations for crude oil and natural gas deposits. These vessels employ compressed air to generate high-energy, low-frequency sound waves that penetrate over 6,000 meters into the seabed. The reflected sound waves are captured by hydrophones on the ship, allowing for the creation of detailed geological maps. The 3D surveys provide enhanced detail compared to 2D surveys, and 4D surveys track changes over time in resource locations.
The final contracts for these projects are anticipated to be signed in Q3 of 2026. Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater, emphasized the strong partnership with ONGC, highlighting their long-standing presence in India since 2016 and the importance of delivering quality geophysical data. This initiative is crucial for ONGC as it seeks to explore new domestic energy reserves amid global energy disruptions. Recently, ONGC reported a significant net profit of ₹17,034 crore for the first quarter of FY 2026-27, marking a 112.3% increase from the previous year.
