Shale gas exploration by end of 2011, says Oil Secretary
18 Oct 2010
Oil Secretary S. Sundareshan today said that India will launch its first-ever offer of shale gas areas for exploration by the end of 2011.
''We are evolving a policy framework for shale gas and the first shale gas round is planned for end 2011,'' Sundareshan said. He added that the potential of shale gas in India is being examined by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH).
The announcement came at a roadshow organised to promote 34 oil and gas blocks offered in the IX round of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), from which the government is targeting at least a billion dollar worth of investment commitment for conventional oil and gas blocks.
India is known to hold shale gas resources in several basins including the Cambay (in Gujarat), Assam-Arakan (in the North-East) and Gondwana (in central India).
Shale gas, the gas obtained from sedimentary rocks, is being looked at as an alternative to conventional oil in US, Canada and China, to meet the growing energy needs.
US gas reserves have been raised to 100 years from the previous 30 years as per current usage on the back of these uncoventional deposits.
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