NGRI finds Gas Hydrate Reserves along East Coast of India

India’s National Geophysical Research Institute has identified hydrate gas reserves along the east coast of the country, a scientist from the institute said.

According to estimates, the reserves are said to be at least 1,500 times the country's current fossil fuel reserves - coal, oil and natural gas put together.

Gas hydrates are crystalline solid and ice-like minerals that form at low temperatures and high pressure in the deep sea. Hydrates contain gases, such as hydrocarbons that glue themselves inside symmetrical cages of water molecules to form hydrate crystals.

The hydrate reserves are found in Krishna-Godavari basin, Mahanadi basin and Andaman region.

These reserves are located at 500 meters deep in the sea and at present it is not economically viable to extract them with the available technology.

According to him, even if one per cent of the gas hydrate reserves are tapped, it would support country's fuel requirements for ten years.

Government of India formulated the National Gas Hydrate Programme (NGHP) in 1997 for exploration and development of gas hydrates resources of the country.