[Geog-India] Shale Gas

Shale Gas in India

 

Synopsis:

(01) Introduction

(02) Why shale gas not a priority in India?

(03) What are the benefits of Shale gas?

(04) Distribution of Shale gas in India

------------------------------------------------------------------------

(01) Introduction:

·        Shale gas is natural gas formed from being trapped within shale formations.

·        Shale gas—an “unconventional” source of methane, like coal-bed gas (in coal seams) and tight gas (trapped in rock formations)

·        It is Colourless, odourless, lighter than air.

·        In Europe shale gas is not used because of green rules and limited property rights. But In America, use of Shale Gas has already started and In future, it will give a spur to the domestic manufacture of anything needing large amounts of energy.

·        Colourless, odourless, lighter than air.

·        Just like Coalbed methane locked in coal seams

·        Shale gas is a Natural gas trapped within shale rock formations in sedimentary basins.

·        ONGC, OIL, GAIL exploring these sites.

·        Subject falls under Director General of Hydrocarbans (DGH)

·        MoU between USA, and India for technical knowledge sharing

(02) Why shale gas not a priority in India?:

·        Difficult to store and transport

·        Shale gas too requires hydraulic fracking method for extraction. Therefore creates following problems

Hydraulic Fracking Needs	India’s Problem
Large Area	Land Acquisition
	Environment Clearance
Large Water Supply	Shortage
Fluid Viscosity Agent	Guar gum too costly. India is largest producer of Guar gum. But due to heavy imports from US shalegas companies, its prices have increased by ten times within a year. Thus shortage for domestic industry- who cannot keep up with the prices offered by Americans.

(03) What are the benefits of Shale gas?:

·        Gas based power plants are cheaper than coal based thermal power plants.

·        Cleaner than coal-  generates 50% less Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

·        Cheaper + clean = better than Nuclear and solar energy, which are quite expensive.

·        Can heat homes and industrial boilers, can run buses and lorries. (experimental basis)

·        Petrochemical industry can convert it into plastics, fertilizer and other useful stuff.

·        Gas power stations are relatively cheap to build, beating nuclear power hands down in terms of capital costs, and in most cases they are also less expensive than renewable.

(04) Distribution of Shale gas in India:

·        Cambay Basin

·        Assam-Arakan

·        Gondwana

·        Krishna-Godavari basin

·        Kaveri basin and

·        the Indo-Gangetic plain

==============================================

More Topics on Indian Geography 

[Study Materials/Notes] Topics on Economics

[Study Materials/Notes] Topics on Culture

[Study Materials/Notes] Topics on Current Affairs

[Study Materials/Notes] Topics on Indian Polity