India Extends OALP-X Oil & Gas Auction Deadline Again

The government has extended the bid submission deadline for the OALP-X oil and gas block auction for the third time, with the new deadline set for 18 February 2026.

The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) announced the extension, giving prospective investors an additional six weeks to submit bids. The auction, launched in February 2025 during India Energy Week, comprises 25 blocks spanning approximately 191,986 sq. km. The deadline was first extended from July to 31 October 2025, and later to 31 December 2025, before the latest revision.

The offered blocks include onshore, shallow-water, deepwater, and ultra-deepwater areas, with the Andaman basin drawing particular interest due to its potential for significant oil and gas discoveries. Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has previously highlighted the basin’s resource potential.

In addition to OALP-X, the bid submission deadlines for the Discovered Small Fields (DSF) and Coal Bed Methane (CBM) rounds have also been extended to 18 February 2026.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.