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The latest changes to the ONGC Deepwater Rig Tender under the Samudra Manthan mission indicate a significant shift in India’s offshore exploration strategy. ONGC has revised the tender structure by narrowing the scope to 3000-meter water-depth DP drillships, removing the earlier provisions for semisubmersibles and anchor-moored floaters. This move sharpens the focus on deepwater drilling capability while reducing the complexity of fleet deployment. The revised ONGC Deepwater Rig Tender reflects the company’s effort to align technical requirements with long-term offshore exploration goals.

Another important change is the reduction of the firm charter period from 48 months to 36 months, while retaining a 12-month optional extension. This adjustment provides ONGC with greater contractual flexibility but increases risk for contractors operating high-value offshore assets. Although mobilisation fee caps have been increased, drillship owners will still need to manage deployment and investment risks carefully. The revised framework strengthens the position of specialised drillship operators while reducing opportunities for mixed-fleet bidders.

The updated mobilisation schedule also suggests a more structured deployment approach. The first rig must mobilise within 180 days of award, while additional rigs follow a phased timeline linked to future operational requirements. This creates a deployment hierarchy rather than a simple procurement exercise.The evolving ONGC Deepwater Rig Tender demonstrates ONGC’s intention to secure advanced offshore drilling capability without committing to a broader fleet programme. Indian Petroplus believes the revised structure signals a more targeted deepwater exploration strategy. This Indian Petroplus analysis indicates that specialised drillship contractors are likely to benefit most as ONGC prioritises operational flexibility, technical efficiency, and long-term offshore resource development, ONGC, Deepwater Rig Tender, Samudra Manthan, Offshore Drilling, Drillship, Deepwater Exploration.

Mangaluru, June 1, 2026: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has appointed Pattathil Sujith as its new Executive Director (Projects), a move aimed at strengthening the company's leadership as it pursues expansion, modernization and energy transition initiatives.

Prior to taking charge of the new role, Sujith served as Group General Manager – Corporate Strategy, where he was instrumental in shaping the company's strategic roadmap, business planning and long-term growth initiatives.

A Mechanical Engineer from Palakkad, Kerala, Sujith brings over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas sector. Since joining MRPL in 1993, he has held key positions across Maintenance, Reliability, Engineering & Inspection, Projects and Corporate Strategy functions.

Over the course of his career, he played a significant role in the commissioning of MRPL’s Phase I, Phase II and Phase III refinery projects, implementation of the Asset Integrity Management System for the Phase III complex, and execution of the company's BS-VI fuel upgrade project.

As Executive Director (Projects), Sujith will oversee the planning, execution and commissioning of major capital investment and infrastructure projects critical to MRPL’s future growth. He is also expected to play a leading role in advancing the company's diversification efforts and supporting initiatives focused on energy transition and sustainable development.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited has proposed a large-scale onshore hydrocarbon development programme involving 349 new wells across Gujarat’s Cambay basin region. The proposed ONGC Gujarat onshore wells project has now been referred to the Expert Appraisal Committee for Fresh Terms of Reference appraisal ahead of environmental clearance evaluation.

The drilling campaign spans eight mining lease blocks across Anand, Kheda and Vadodara districts, with Padra PML accounting for the majority of proposed wells. ONGC plans to drill to an average depth of around 1,200 metres, with each well expected to require 30 to 45 days for completion. The total estimated investment for the development programme stands at Rs 1,892 crore.

The project will connect future production to existing installations including Padra GGS, Kathana GGS, Akholjuni EPS and Anklav EPS. ONGC has indicated that rapid urbanisation in parts of Gujarat’s Cambay Asset is increasing the urgency of exploiting remaining hydrocarbon reserves before land-use pressures intensify further.

The ONGC Gujarat onshore wells project also includes environmental safeguards such as wastewater treatment systems, reuse mechanisms, HDPE-lined pits and water-based mud systems for drilling waste management. Water demand has been estimated at around 22 KLD per well.According to Indian Petroplus analysis, the proposal highlights ONGC’s continued focus on sustaining mature onshore production regions while balancing rising environmental scrutiny around new fossil fuel developments. The project also reflects the growing importance of smaller and medium-depth onshore fields in maintaining domestic oil and gas output stability.

Jackup rig hire tender activity in India’s offshore drilling sector is seeing a major shift after ONGC relaxed bid security requirements for multiple rig participation under tender ZW3AC26003. The latest jackup rig hire tender revision allows bidders to submit EMD for only one non-empaneled rig even if several rigs are offered, reducing liquidity pressure and potentially widening participation in India’s offshore rig market. However, ONGC has retained strict technical qualification norms including class certification, serviceability, operating history, TPI compliance and residual life certification. The tender covers charter hiring of two or more MLT/BMC jackup rigs for a three-year period under an international competitive bidding framework. Industry observers believe the corrigendum improves bid economics for offshore contractors while allowing ONGC to maintain tight control over rig quality and operational reliability. Indian Petroplus analysis suggests the move reflects ONGC’s strategy to attract wider offshore capacity participation without compromising fleet discipline or execution standards in India’s offshore drilling segment.

The ONGC jackup rig tender reflects a calibrated shift in procurement strategy, where entry barriers are being softened without compromising technical discipline. The key change—limiting EMD to only one non-empaneled rig even if multiple rigs are offered—directly improves bidder liquidity and participation.

However, the technical gate remains firmly intact. ONGC continues to enforce strict requirements around rig serviceability, recent operating history, class certification, TPI compliance, and residual life. This ensures that while more bidders can enter, only technically robust rigs remain competitive.

From an Indian Petroplus analysis, this approach signals a dual objective: expand offshore rig availability while maintaining control over execution risk. The structure allows ONGC to attract a wider pool of contractors without diluting asset quality standards.

The tender also retains flexibility on the number of rigs to be awarded. While the baseline requirement is two rigs, additional capacity depends on operational needs, giving ONGC strategic control over fleet deployment.Overall, the ONGC jackup rig tender is not just a procedural adjustment. It reflects a broader strategy where financial entry barriers are eased to stimulate competition, while technical and operational controls remain tightly enforced to safeguard project delivery, ONGC, Jackup Rig, Offshore Drilling, Oil And Gas India, Energy Tenders.

ONGC’s internal digitisation initiative is turning into a broader debate as the ONGC employee surveillance policy faces resistance from both employees and legal forums. As per Indian Petroplus analysis, what began as a routine attendance reform has escalated into a question of privacy, practicality, and control.

The ONGC employee surveillance policy is built around a mobile-based attendance system using geo-fencing and location tracking. While management positions it as an efficiency tool, employees argue that it introduces excessive monitoring beyond operational necessity.

Legal challenges have already emerged, with the matter reaching the Delhi High Court, where the debate centres on whether continuous tracking violates privacy norms. At the same time, operational concerns are surfacing due to unreliable connectivity in offshore and remote locations.

The combination of surveillance concerns and execution challenges suggests that the ONGC employee surveillance policy is not just a digital upgrade but a structural shift in workforce monitoring.

Its outcome could set a precedent for how far digital tracking can be implemented in large, field-based public sector organisations, ONGC, Employee Surveillance, Workplace Policy, Corporate Governance, Data Privacy India, PSU India.