Lok Sabha Question No. 1339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-07
Subject: Shale Oil and Gas
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA, ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH, ABHISHEK BANERJEE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1339

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th  DECEMBER, 2015

## SHALE OIL AND GAS

## 1339.  SHRI PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA: DR. A. SAMPATH: SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE:

पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether United States of America (USA) has turned as an exporting country after huge production    of  shale  oil/gas  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  India's  production  of shale oil and gas as compared to China and USA during the last two year's and the current year;
- (b)  whether the shale oil and gas exploration policy has been finalized and the Government proposes to be included in the New Exploration and Licensing Policy and if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of the same;
- (c)   whether the Government has identified shale oil and gas reserves in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the names of Government/private oil companies which have discovered the said shale blocks, oil blocks/fields/company-wise;
- (d)    the quantum of oil and gas estimated to be available in the said reserves along with the status of on-going projects for exploration of shale oil and gas and fund allocated/utilized, oil blocks/fields/company-wise;
- (e)  the concrete steps taken by the Government to start production in existing shale oil and gas blocks which are found during the recent years; and
- (f)  whether the Government has conducted any study to find out its impact on environment and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof?

## ANSWER

पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( प्राार रन्त्िवत्र ( ) प्रााप्र ामेवध ीी )

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a):   In India, Shale gas is still in exploration stage.

US & China Shale Gas Production in Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) are as under:-

(compiled from Internet)

|   Year |   China |   US |
|--------|---------|------|
|   2013 |     0.2 |  323 |
|   2014 |     1.3 |  381 |

Figures for the year 2015 not available

## In 2014 US was producing tight oil about 4 million barrel per day from shale formation.

(Source: China Figures http://en.cgs.gov.cn/new1/144403.htm)

(Source: US Figures http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng\_prod\_shalegas\_s1\_a.htm)

(b):   In order to exploit shale gas & Oil in the country, Government of India on 14 th October, 2013 announced the Policy Guidelines for Exploration and Exploitation of Shale Gas and Oil by National Oil Companies (ONGC and Oil India Limited (OIL)) in their onland Petroleum Exploration  License  (PEL)  /  Petroleum  Mining  Lease  (PML)  areas      awarded  under  the nomination  regimes.  Shale  gas  exploration  will  be  covered  under  the  Uniform  Licensing Policy.

(c):     In pursuance of this Policy Guideline, 2013 under the first phase of assessment ONGC has identified and initiated shale gas and oil   exploration activities in 50 PEL/PML areas and OIL has identified and initiated shale gas exploration activities in 6 PEL/PML areas.

(d):   Different agencies have estimated the Shale gas & Oil resources of India with wide variation in estimate. In May  2013, US  Energy Information Administration (US Department  of  Energy)  in  association  with  Advanced  Resources  International,  INC estimated a total of 16.54 Trillion Cubic Meter (TCM) of shale gas in-place for India.  The technically recoverable shale gas resource is estimated at 2.72 TCM in India.  In addition, it was  estimated  that  shale  oil  in-place  for  India  87  billion  barrels.    The  technically recoverable shale oil resource is estimated at 3.8 billion barrels for India.

Government  of  India  has  not  allocated  any  fund  for  these  projects . However,  after announcement of policy guidelines for Shale gas and Oil Exploration in Nomination blocks ONGC  has  allocated  a  sum  of  Rs.  220.89  Crore  for  the  year  2015-16.  Out  of  this  total investment made by ONGC  is Rs.159.46 Crore upto 30.09.2015.

OIL has allocated a sum of Rs. 13.55 Crore for year 2015-16. Out of this Rs.1.15 Crore has been spent by OIL so far on G&G studies.

(e):   In India, Shale gas is still in exploration stage.   Presently, ONGC is carrying out Shale Gas and Oil exploration activities  in  Cambay,  Cauvery,  Krishna-Godavari  and  Assam  and Arakan Basins.    Oil  India  Ltd.  is  carrying  out  Shale  Gas  and  Oil  exploration  activities  in Assam and Rajasthan basins.

So far ONGC has drilled 17 assessment wells for Shale gas and oil and one well is under testing  and  has  shown  some  positive  indication  of  shale  oil.  OIL  is  carrying  out  data collection and G&G studies for the well location.

(f):  As per Policy Guidelines, 2013 the Company shall be responsible for all activities related to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and site restoration in respect of Shale Gas and Oil operations in line with guidelines/rules stipulated by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Environment and Forest or by any statutory authority from time to time.