Development of Coalbed Methane in India: Comparison with Global CBM basins

Abstract

Gas consumption in India has grown at an annual rate of 10% from 2001–2011. To meet an increase in gas demand, India needs to develop unconventional gas resources like coal bed methane (CBM) and shale gas. India has 91 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of CBM resource. To develop CBM resource in India, CBM policy was frame in 1997 and first round of bidding took place in 2001. Till the end of round-IV of CBM bidding, Government of India awarded 33 CBM blocks to public and private industries. The prognosticated CBM resource for the awarded 33 CBM blocks is about 52 Tcf. Commercial CBM production has started from Raniganj (South) block since 14July 2007 which now contributes 7.7 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd). In this study, the commercially successful global CBM basins have analyzed to understand important parameters for CBM productivity. Indian CBM blocks compared with commercially successful global CBM basins for depth, thickness and gas content. Study shows good CBM production potential in Indian CBM blocks. Technical, regulatory, environment and infrastructural aspects for CBM development in India  is discussed.

Keywords: India, coal bed methane, CBM basins, production, resource