(a) the present status of the exploration of shale gas in the country; and
(b) whether ONGC has stopped the exploratory drilling due to low gas potential in the basins identified for exploration and if so, the details thereof?
(a) the present status of the exploration of shale gas in the country; and
(b) whether ONGC has stopped the exploratory drilling due to low gas potential in the basins identified for exploration and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN )
(a) & (b): In order to exploit shale gas & Oil in the country, Government of India on 14th October, 2013 announced the Policy Guidelines for Exploration and Exploitation of Shale Gas and Oil by National Oil Companies, i.e. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited and Oil India Limited (OIL)) in their onland Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) / Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) areas awarded under the nomination regimes.
In pursuance of this Policy, under the first phase of assessment, ONGC drilled 22 assessment wells in 18 blocks in 4 Basins (Assam, KG, Cauvery and Cambay basin) and OIL drilled 3 wells in 3 blocks in 2 Basins (Assam and Rajasthan). ONGC has informed that after initial drilling and assessment of low potentiality no further shale exploration is planned in Assam and Cauvery Basins.
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