Oil India Limited has started gas exploration in Tripura by drilling the Debtamura-1 well under the HELP regime, marking a historic milestone for the state.
In a landmark move for the state’s energy sector, state-owned Oil India Limited (OIL) has commenced its gas exploration and production activities in Tripura. The initiative began with the spudding of a new well at Debtamura in Gomati district, marking the first such effort under the Government of India’s Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) in the state.
Officials confirmed that the well, named Debtamura-1, is located within the Baramura-Debtamura Reserve Forest, approximately 120 km from Agartala, near the India-Bangladesh international border. The spudding ceremony was held on Sunday and attended by OIL’s Resident Chief Executive Rupjyoti Phukan and other senior officials.
The commencement of drilling at Debtamura-1 is being hailed as a historic breakthrough in Tripura’s hydrocarbon development. It is the first well to be drilled by any oil and gas company in the state under the HELP regime, symbolizing a significant push towards self-reliance in energy, aligned with the national mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Despite the promising prospects, the project faced a multitude of operational challenges. The region’s undulating, heavily forested terrain, narrow hilly roads with sharp curves, and the long monsoon season posed severe logistical and environmental difficulties. The extended rains led to flooding and landslides, damaging well plinths and approach roads, complicating site access and setup. Nevertheless, OIL officials commended the resilience and commitment of their teams for overcoming the hurdles to get the project underway.
Several high-ranking officials were present during the spudding ceremony, including Maj Gen (Retd) Praveen Mathur, Advisor – Security (DGH); Sutirtha Paul, Joint Director of the Tripura Directorate of Industries and Commerce; Chitra Mohan Borah, Executive Director and Head of Frontier Basin Project, OIL; and senior representatives from GAIL and ONGC.
Tripura is not new to gas exploration. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), another major government-owned company, has been active in the state since 1972. It has drilled over 200 wells, with many currently yielding gas. ONGC currently produces about 3.5 MMSCMD (Million Metric Standard Cubic Meters per Day) of gas from the region.
In addition, ONGC played a pivotal role in establishing the ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) and constructing the 726 MW Palatana gas-based power plant in Udaipur, Gomati district. The two power generation units were inaugurated by former President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
The new exploration by OIL represents a fresh chapter in Tripura’s energy journey, promising increased production, job creation, and enhanced energy security for the region and the country.
