SOUVENIR COMMITTEE - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
SOUVENIR COMMITTEE - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
SOUVENIR COMMITTEE - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
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Training Programme on “PALYNOLOGY IN FOSSIL FUEL EXPLORATION”<br />
[ September 10-17, 2012 ]<br />
GEOCHEMISTRY AND PALYNOLOGY IN UNCONVENTIONAL GAS RESEARCH AND<br />
EXPLORATION<br />
BALESHWAR KUMAR<br />
National Geophysical Research <strong>Institute</strong> , Hyderabad 500007<br />
E-mail: baleshk@yahoo.com<br />
The energy scenario in India and even in the world is mostly driven by conventional fuel, (coal,<br />
oil & gas) which may last for ~ 200 years and therefore development <strong>of</strong> unconventional oil & gas fields<br />
have taken a major stride worldwide. While the developed economies, mostly USA and Europe are<br />
producing Unconventional shale gas & oil and coal bed methane on commercial scale, the emerging<br />
economies are still to explore and exploit. Gas is a cleaner fuel than oil and hence there is an urgent need<br />
for exploring and exploiting unconventional fossil fuels such as shale gas; coal bed methane; and gas<br />
hydrates.<br />
India has taken initiatives towards research and development <strong>of</strong> unconventional gas. The<br />
recoverable shale gas reserve estimates <strong>of</strong> India are around 60 tcf (EIA, 2011), but may be4-5 higher<br />
than these as EIA estimates is based on the available R&D data from conventionaloil and gas fields. The<br />
potential shale gas bearing basins <strong>of</strong> India are; Vindhyan, Gondwana, Cauvery, Krishna- Godavari,<br />
Bengal & Cambay etc. and these basins have shale horizons with Suitable maturity and TOC. Shale gas<br />
explorations have already been initiated in Cambay and Gondwana basins by Gujarat State Petroleum<br />
Corporation and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). ONGC have joined hands with Schlumberger<br />
and have drilled a bore well upto the depth <strong>of</strong> 2000 meters in Damodar valley coalfield area <strong>of</strong> West<br />
Bengal and the results are quite encouraging. The prognostic resource potential <strong>of</strong> coal bed methane and<br />
hydrate gas are around 20 and 2000 TCF respectively. The commercial production <strong>of</strong> coal bed methane<br />
(CBM) has already been started in the country.<br />
Status and outlook <strong>of</strong> India’s R& D program for unconventional gas resource exploration and<br />
exploitation will be presented and discussed with special reference to shale gas and coal bed methane.<br />
The role <strong>of</strong> Geochemistry and Palynology in shale gas and CBM research and exploration will also be<br />
deliberated.<br />
<strong>Birbal</strong> <strong>Sahni</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Palaeobotany</strong>, Lucknow<br />
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