SR I_Brochure_I c.cdr - ONGC

Shale Gas
Over the last few years, Shale Gas has increasingly been at
the centre of attention for E&P players in many parts of the
world. This is because it is believed that successful
commercial production of gas from shale will vastly increase
the availability of gas, which by its very nature is less GHG
intensive as compared to Coal & Crude Oil.
The Shale Gas Pilot Project
In the reporting period, we attained another milestone in our
quest for cleaner energy. We struck Shale gas for the first time
in India at Well RNSG #1 at Icchapur near Durgapur,
West Bengal, confirming the presence of gas in Indian Shale.
This is an exploration landmark in the geological history of
India.
The nature of the Shale Gas is location and geology
specific. This makes the evaluation and production of shale
gas difficult and there appears no unique solution to all
shales. Each shale needs to be handled in its own unique
way, although the broader philosophy remains the same.
This was the reason the 'frac design', based on USA shale
plays, did not work when applied to our project. The
hydrofrac design was then modified and revisited to witness
moderate success. Subsequently with enhanced
knowledge on our shale, the extent of our success
improved.
Our shale gas success is based upon improvisation and this
has helped us to move up the learning curve faster. This has
lent us increased confidence in understanding this
promising new horizon that which we intend to replicate in
other prospective basins independently.
As the first success, the second well under the pilot project
has been completed and the third well is about to be
spudded. This is to be followed up by a comprehensive
action plan based on the experience from the wells in the
pilot project.
What are Shales?
Shales are fine-grained rocks that have virtually no
permeability to allow the flow of gas. Since they are
considered mother rocks for the entire oil and gas
genesis in the earth, a good amount of remnant gas is
locked in them which cannot be produced unless
permeability is enhanced by artificial fracturing.
Burning bright - Marking the beginning of
Shale gas in the country