NEW DELHI: State-owned Oil India Limited (OIL) has successfully opened a new gas pay zone at Rajasthan’s Dhandiwala field, with a flow of nearly 25,000 standard cubic meters per day, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday.Puri congratulated the oil company on its technological superiority and said on social media that Maharatna’s energy discovery “will provide momentum to India’s journey towards energy self-sufficiency.”The oil company described the discovery, which was made at a depth of 950 metres, as “modest but important” and said it indicated the potential for achievement and potential in the region. “This represents the first ever successful establishment of a gas presence in the Sanu Formation within the Dandewala field, thus opening a new play and validating our strategy of revisiting subsurface potential through focused technical interventions.”The newly discovered gas is characterized by its best quality, as it contains low levels of carbon dioxide, which is in line with the country’s quest for clean fuel alternatives. This discovery not only represents an important advance for the hydrocarbon sector in western Rajasthan, but also strengthens the region’s position as a strategic energy hub.Energy experts are optimistic that the opening of the new thrust zone will stimulate more exploration and production activities in Rajasthan, which has large oil and gas reserves. Industry observers point out that the latest discovery may open doors for further exploration in the vicinity of the Jaisalmer Basin.