Major Hydrocarbon Discovery for OIL on Brahmaputra North Bank

Oil India Limited (OIL) has confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons at Kobochapori, located on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra River. The announcement was made by Chairman and Managing Director Ranjit Rath during a press briefing in Guwahati on June 2, 2025. The discovery lies within an Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) block.

“Our focused, strategy-driven exploration efforts have led to the identification of hydrocarbons at Kobochapori,” Rath stated. To assess the well’s commercial potential, OIL is conducting further seismic surveys and plans to undertake additional drilling in the area. Seismic data has been collected across the entire North Bank, covering areas such as Biswanath Chariali and Mangaldoi, with international consultants engaged for detailed analysis.

CMD Rath also shared that over the past two years, OIL has completed more than 40 geological and geophysical studies, identifying over 90 prospective drillable locations. Additionally, the company is preparing to resume exploration activities in Nagaland, pending favorable political conditions. OIL holds exploration rights over 3,000 sq. km in Nagaland, and a Memorandum of Understanding is under discussion between the governments of Assam and Nagaland to facilitate exploration in disputed border regions.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.