India, Aug. 29 -- ONGC's first commercial hydrocarbon discovery in the Bengal Basin at Ashoknagar has moved closer to production, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday. The development marks a significant step in India's efforts to expand domestic hydrocarbon production and strengthen energy security.

Puri said ONGC established the flow potential of light, high-quality crude oil from development well AS-1Z less than three months after it was spudded on May 30, 2026. The development represents a transition from years of exploration to actual production potential at the Ashoknagar field.

The maiden crude oil consignment from Ashoknagar was flagged off for Indian Oil Corporation's Haldia Refinery, marking a...