Question : COAL BED METHANE

(a) whether certain reserves of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) have been found in the country including Western Rajasthan;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the exploration works carried our so far State/UT-wise;

(c) the number of CBM blocks allocated to various companies by the Union Government in western Rajasthan and Gujarat;

(d) whether the ONGC was allocated CBM blocks in Rajasthan’s Barmer and Sanchore and Gujarat in the second phase of CBM policy of the Union Government but the ONGC has surrendered the said blocks and if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Government has taken any steps for exploration of underground lignite in western Rajasthan; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS ( SHRIMATI PANABAAKA LAKSHMI)

(a) & (b) : So far, Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Gas in Place volume of about 9.12 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) has been established in six CBM blocks in the States of West Bengal (2), Jharkhand (2) and Madhya Pradesh (2). However, CBM reserve is yet to be established in the CBM blocks awarded in Rajasthan.

So far, a total of 33 CBM blocks have been awarded in various States.The details of exploratory works carried out so far in awarded CBM blocks, State-wise, are given as under:

S.No.	State	Number of	Actual Exploration	Blocks Awarded	Works Carried out	(Core Holes/Test	Wells/Pilot Wells)
1	Gujarat	1	10
2	Rajasthan	4	20
3	West Bengal	4	123
4	Jharkhand	7	89
5	Madhya Pradesh	7	120
6	Andhra Pradesh	2	-
7	Assam	1	-
8	Chhattisgarh	3	39
9	Maharashtra	1	2
10	Odisha	2	-
11	Tamil Nadu	1	-
Total	33	403

Sr. No	Block Name	CBM Bidding Round	Operator	Coal Field/ State
1	BS (1) –	CBM-II	RIL	Barmer/Rajasthan	CBM 2003/II
2	BS (2) – II	CBM-II	RIL	Barmer/Rajasthan	CBM-2003/
3	BS (4) –	CBM-III	GEOPETROL	Barmer/Rajasthan	CBM-2005/III
4	BS (5) –	CBM-III	GEOPETROL	Barmer/Rajasthan	CBM 2005/III
5	BS (3) –	CBM-II	ONGC	Barmer-Sanchor/Gujarat	CBM 2003/II