(a) whether the Government is aware that leakage of inflammable natural gas is going on from dry borewells in Sagar and
Damoh areas of Madhya Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has conducted study in this regard by deep excavation on the
above sites; and
(d) if so, the reasons for leakage of inflammable natural gas therefrom?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI R.P.N. Singh)
(a) and (b): Yes, Madam. Cases of leakage of gas from tubewells reported were investigated by Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation Limited (ONGC) from the localities of Jarwas(Tahsil Khurai), Tiwari Dhaba and Mirkhedi(Tahsil Garhakota)
in District Sagar and localities Mariyado, Menguwa, Devlai, Kainkhera and Himmatpati(Tahsil Hatta) in District Damoh.
(c) and (d): ONGC has drilled six deep wells in the past, viz. Damoh#1(3501m), Jabera#1 (3597.7m), Jabera#2(5324m),
Nohta#1(4395m) and Nohta#2 (1811m) (all in District Damoh) and Khaarkhari#1(3825m) (District Katni) in the
surrounding areas. The recently drilled wells Nohta#1 and Nohta#2 in nomination Petroleum Exploration Licence(PEL)
Damoh-Jabera-Katni are gas bearing and their potential in under assessment.
ONGC currently does not have Petroleum Exploration Licence in District Sagar.
The gas samples collected from these bore wells were analyzed at ONGC labs. The gases were found to be mainly methane
of bacterial as well as thermogenic origin and are released to the surface through natural conduits as a natural
process.