New Delhi: Oil India Limited (OIL) has signed a Revenue Sharing Contract (RSC) for a special Coal Bed Methane (CBM) block in the Singrauli Coalfield region, marking a renewed push into unconventional hydrocarbon exploration.

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The contract for Special CBM Block SR-ONHP-(CBM)-2026/1 was signed on October 15, 2026, according to a company press release dated October 18.

The signing ceremony was attended by Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas; and V. Ponnuraj, Director General, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH). Trailukya Borgohain, Director (Operations) at OIL, represented the company along with his team.

The block covers an area of 272.14 square kilometres in the Singrauli Coalfield region. According to OIL, the block has promising geological prospects, with coal seams expected at depths of 600–800 metres and an average seam thickness of around 40 metres.

The development marks OIL’s return to CBM exploration as the company seeks to tap India’s unconventional hydrocarbon resources.

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In an official statement, OIL said the milestone underscores its commitment to unlocking the country’s unconventional hydrocarbon potential and strengthening India’s energy security.

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