ONGC ventures into shale gas exploration

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) today said it has ventured into Shale Gas exploration by spudding the first Shale Gas well RNSG-1 in Ichapur village near Durgapur in Burdwan District of West Bengal.

The well is targeted to a depth of 2,000 meters and will be assessing the Shale Gas potential of about 700 meters thick shale of Permian age which is about 250 to 300 million years old, the company said in a statement here.

ONGC plans to drill three more wells in Damodar Valley by end of XIth Five Year Plan in March 2012.

Shale gas is natural gas contained within sedimentary rock formations. Shale gas exploration and production around the globe in general, and US in particular, has witnessed a surge in activity in the recent times and is making substantial contribution to gas production to the extent that Shale gas is often regarded as 'a game changer' in the hydrocarbon industry.

In the US, Shale gas production contributes to nearly 17 per cent of their total gas production.

In the Indian context, Damodar and Cambay basins were identified as priority areas for shale gas exploration.

ONGC said the contract for spudding the shale gas well has been awarded to Schlumberger and the results of this well are expected by end October.