Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22 -- The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has discovered a natural gas reserve in the Mahanadi deep-sea basin, around 43 kilometres off the Konark coast in Odisha.

The discovery was made during ONGC's ongoing deep-sea exploration campaign, 'Samudra Manthan', and has drawn attention to the energy potential of the offshore region.

ONGC drilled the well to a depth of 1,623 metres using the Platinum Explorer drillship. The drilling operation began on July 25 as part of the company's deep-sea exploration activities in the Mahanadi basin.

According to ONGC, the well has recorded "encouraging flow and reservoir pressure" during the latest testing. The company has reported gas flow from the well over the past three da...