The government is taking steps to unlock the potential of shale gas reserves in India in order to bridge the ever rising demand for energy. The country is dependent on import to meet over 70 percent of crude oil and this is expected to change if we successfully explore shale gas reserves. Following are some of the steps taken by the government in this direc
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Analysts divided on Cairn India’s demand for relinquished block
Industry analysts are divided on the issue of whether the government must allow Cairn India to explore the to re-explore an area of Barmer block that it had earlier relinquished. Some experts feel that the government should not give back the area to Cairn India and instead put the asset for auction and allow the company to bid for it along with other players
Conventional oil and gas more desirable in Rajasthan block
Some experts argue that Cairn India must concentrate on oil and gas production from its Rajasthan block instead of foraying into shale gas exploration in the area. Experts argue that shale gas exploration is a technology-intensive area, which is at its infancy even in the United States
Govt must take into account key issues in shale gas
As the government is about to announce shale gas policy, experts highlighted some of the issues that must be considered while allowing exploration and production of the fuel. Shale gas and oil are produced from rock formations using "fracking" technology. This injects water and sand at high pressure into wells drilled horiz
Cairn India wants govt to remove discrimination
In a letter to the union oil ministry, P Elango, CEO of Cairn India asked the ministry to do away with the discrimination between NELP and pre-NELP blocks while giving the right of first refusal for shale gas exploration. It may be recalled that the draft policy for exploration of shale gas provides for giving operators of block awarded under New Exploration Policy (NELP) since 2000, the right of first refusal for exploiting the unco
Liberalisation of gas sector may incentivise production
Some industry observers suggest the government to liberalise natural gas sector in India in order to incentivise exploration and production by private companies. They point out that like in the US, if gas market is liberalised, it will help IndiaÂ’s economy in more ways than what can be predicted. Some industry observers argue that producers will be attracted to invest in gas exploration including shale gas.
Govt to consider views of fertiliser, power ministry on gas pricing
Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily is quoted as saying that the government would arrive at a consensus on the pricing of natural gas after considering the reservations of the power and fertiliser ministries. Moily has reportedly said his ministry has not yet approved $8-$8.5 per mmbtu as the new uniform gas price, as suggested by the committee headed by
Imperial to develop shale gas field with a partner
Imperial Energy, which identified the Bazhenov shale formation in its oil and gas block in the Tomsk region of Western Siberia, Russian Federation, plans to develop it with the help of a global energy company. The company, which was acquired by ONGC Videsh in 2009, plans to induct an equity partner to develop the area, which is said to have the worldÂ’s single biggest reser
250 existing blocks said to have shale gas reserves
India is said to be having shale gas reserves in at least 250 existing oil and gas blocks. According to government estimates, a few basins in India together have a potential to produce 63 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of shale gas, while it has a total shale potential of close to 300 TCF. Experts say shale gas and oil reserves may be present in at least 11 more basins
Govt may ask existing contractors to explore shale gas
The government would unveil shale gas policy in the next few weeks, Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily informed. According to Petroleum Secretary Vivek Rae, the government may ask contractors of the existing 254 blocks, awarded under various licensing rounds, to consider shale gas exploration

