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ONGC, CIL given two blocks for methane exploration
Thursday, 06 February 2003, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: A consortium of state-owned exploration major Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Coal India Ltd (CIL) have been given two coal-bed methane (CBM) exploration blocks on nomination basis.
The two blocks in the coal belt of Jharia in Jharkhand and Raniganj in West Bengal "were allocated to the consortium on nomination basis as ONGC was already working in these blocks", Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said here Thursday at the contract signing ceremony.
They have already spent about 
300 million in Jharia block and about 40 million in Raniganj block, he added.
CBM is the gas found in coalmines, which is tapped as energy source to power industries. Being a low-pressure gas, it is likely to be utilised locally for industrial and power projects and thereby give a boost to industrial activities in areas of CBM operation.
According to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon (DGH), the body entrusted with the task of studying and mapping exploration prospects and monitoring production activities, Jharia has an estimated resources of about 85 billion cubic metres and Raniganj about 43 billion cubic metres.
"The consortium is expected to reach commercial production stage in both the blocks in about three years," said Naik.
In its quest to find new sources of energy to bridge the growing gap between demand and supply, India has awarded a total eight CBM blocks for exploration.
"In these eight blocks DGH has estimated CBM resource of about 400 billion cubic metres and expected production potential of about 13 million standard cubic metres per day. The total investment in exploration phase in these blocks will be about 2.5 billion," the minister said.
India expects to offer several more CBM blocks for exploration in April.
By taking aggressive steps to explore and produce CBM, India has joined a select group of CBM nations such as the U.S., China and Australia, Naik said.
Source: IANS
300 million in Jharia block and about 40 million in Raniganj block, he added.
CBM is the gas found in coalmines, which is tapped as energy source to power industries. Being a low-pressure gas, it is likely to be utilised locally for industrial and power projects and thereby give a boost to industrial activities in areas of CBM operation.
According to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon (DGH), the body entrusted with the task of studying and mapping exploration prospects and monitoring production activities, Jharia has an estimated resources of about 85 billion cubic metres and Raniganj about 43 billion cubic metres.
"The consortium is expected to reach commercial production stage in both the blocks in about three years," said Naik.
In its quest to find new sources of energy to bridge the growing gap between demand and supply, India has awarded a total eight CBM blocks for exploration.
"In these eight blocks DGH has estimated CBM resource of about 400 billion cubic metres and expected production potential of about 13 million standard cubic metres per day. The total investment in exploration phase in these blocks will be about 2.5 billion," the minister said.
India expects to offer several more CBM blocks for exploration in April.
By taking aggressive steps to explore and produce CBM, India has joined a select group of CBM nations such as the U.S., China and Australia, Naik said.
Source: IANS