Jan. 25: Oil and gas major ONGC has found shale gas indication from a shale gas pilot project it was carrying out in West Bengal. If this project is successful, it could result in a major boost to India’s natural gas supplies over the next few years.
Shale gas — or natural gas trapped in shale rock formations — has emerged as an important energy source in the US over the past few years and now accounts for almost one-fourth of natural gas supply there. Reliance Industries had acquired stakes in three shale gas projects in the US with a total investment of over $4 billion.
“We have got shale gas indication from the first well we had drilled. However, we cannot reveal any further, as tests are not yet over,” a top ONGC official told PTI on condition of anonymity from Ranigunj drilling site.
“Now, first test of first zone has begun and the data is being analysed in India and the US. There will be a total of four tests of four zones of the same well and after that only we can give some better picture of the findings,” he added.
ONGC engineers and technical staff had started the first shale gas well exploration in the state from September 2010.
Potential of shale gas is huge in West Bengal, the ONGC researchers believe. While no detailed studies have been conducted so far, India may be holding up to 500 trillion cubic feet of shale gas reserves. Drilling four pilot production wells in West Bengal and Jharkhand will cost Rs 170 crore as against the original estimates of Rs 128 crore in March 2010. ONGC has awarded the project to Terra Tek of Schlumberger.