India's Hydrocarbon Outlook – 2022-2023

124 DGH: 3 DECADES OF UNLOCKING INDIA'S HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL Introduction India, a nation with a coastal stretch extending over 7,500 kilometers, boasts a veritable plethora of aquatic resources, including the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. With an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) sprawling over a massive 2.36 million square kilometers, this region teems with both living and non-living resources, ranging from the recoverable to the precious, such as crude oil, natural gas, and gas hydrates. The jurisdiction of the EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from the coastline, thereby conferring on the coastal state the right to manage, explore, exploit, and conserve all resources within its purview, be they living or non-living. The offshore areas are classified based on depth, with shallow water production comprising depths below 400 meters, deepwater production covering depths of up to 1500 meters, and ultra-deepwater production restricted to depths greater than 1500 meters. Blue Economy-India's Quest for Oil and Gas in EEZ 5 124