Essar to Explore for Shale Gas in India
Indian Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production is planning to explore for shale gas from its asset located in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Indian independent news agency IANS reported March 5. Essar already produces coalbed methane (CBM) there.
The company is likely to submit an exploration proposal to explore for shale gas from the Raniganj East block to a steering committee by end of this month, CEO Vilas Tawde said March 5. The steering committee has representatives from India's petroleum ministry, its directorate of hydrocarbons, and also from operators.
"The block has shale gas potential of 7.7 trillion ft3, of which recoverable is 1.5 tn ft3. The Simultaneous Exploitation Policy, where licensees for any hydrocarbons can exploit any hydrocarbon resources, is expected soon," Tawde told reporters in Kolkata (Calcutta), state capital of West Bengal.
Last month Essar said that India’s biggest gas marketing and transportation company Gail won a 15-year deal to buy CBM produced from the Raniganj East block. Essar is currently producing over 1mn m3/d of CBM from the block.