#760 How India Is De-Risking Oil Exploration One Well At A Time | Govindraj Ethiraj | The Core Report

How India Is De-Risking Oil Exploration One Well At A Time is the focus of this in-depth conversation on The Core Report with Govindraj Ethiraj. As India looks to secure its energy future, this episode explores how ONGC is changing the way it approaches oil exploration, reducing risk one well at a time while navigating geopolitics, technology shifts, and rising energy demand.

In this discussion, Financial Journalist Govindraj Ethiraj speaks with Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman & CEO, ONGC, about how India is de-risking oil exploration through deep water and ultra-deep water drilling, global collaboration, and advanced digital and AI-driven seismic analysis. The conversation explains why India’s biggest oil discoveries, if they come, are likely offshore and why patience, data, and repeated drilling matter more than quick wins.

We look at how oil exploration economics have changed, why a single ultra-deep water well can cost many times more than traditional drilling, and how India is balancing risk, cost, and technology to improve success rates. The episode also unpacks how global oil markets, crude prices, geopolitics, and deglobalisation are shaping India’s energy strategy and why domestic exploration has become even more critical.

This episode of The Core Report also dives into India’s broader energy transition, including renewables, solar power, energy storage, and why oil and gas will continue to play a central role in India’s growth story for decades. From AI in drilling decisions to building global capability centres and attracting young engineering talent, this is a rare inside look at how India is de-risking oil exploration one well at a time.

If you follow business news, world news, energy policy, or the future of India’s economy, this conversation offers clarity on how oil exploration, technology, and energy security intersect at a crucial moment.

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