Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Ltd (EOGEPL) has partnered with The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) and ONGC Energy Centre to introduce microbial stimulation technology in its Raniganj-East CBM (coal bed methane) block in West Bengal. The technology is expected to boost gas production and increase the reserve base by up to 10%.
Microbial treatment is a commonly used method to enhance recovery and increase reserves in oil and gas fields. Essar has completed feasibility testing in collaboration with TERI and ONGC Energy Centre, and R&D is currently underway for full-field application.
According to Essar, the eCBM microbial stimulation has been carried out in five wells, which will be monitored for the next three to six months. Based on the results, the technology will be deployed on a large scale to raise gas yield and improve reserves base.
“The investment in microbial technology demonstrates our commitment to increase production and reserves base,” said Essar CEO Pankaj Kalra in a company statement.
Essar has invested more than Rs 5,000 crore in the exploration and development of the Raniganj CBM block. The company is the only E&P company in India to produce over 80 billion cubic feet of gas trapped between coal seams till date. EOGEPL plans to invest an additional Rs 2,000 crore to enhance its reserve base and ramp up CBM production with the aim of contributing at least 5% of India’s total gas production.
The introduction of microbial stimulation technology is expected to increase the efficiency of gas production in the Raniganj CBM block. This could help India to reduce its reliance on imported gas and meet its increasing energy demands.
EOGEPL’s move towards microbial stimulation technology also comes as India looks to diversify its energy mix and increase the share of renewable energy in its total energy consumption. India has set a target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, with plans to increase this to 450 GW by 2030.
However, the country still heavily relies on fossil fuels to meet its energy demands, with natural gas playing a key role in meeting the country’s energy needs. According to a report by the International Energy Agency, India’s natural gas demand is expected to more than double by 2040, with the country becoming one of the world’s largest gas importers.
As India looks to meet its increasing energy demands, the introduction of microbial stimulation technology could help to increase the efficiency of gas production and reduce the country’s reliance on imported gas.
Microbial stimulation technology is a method of enhancing gas production by using microbes to break down organic matter and convert it into methane gas. This technology has been successfully implemented in other countries such as the United States and Canada, where it has helped to increase gas production and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The success of microbial stimulation technology in the Raniganj CBM block could have implications for other CBM blocks in India. Currently, India has the fifth largest proven coal reserves in the world, with over 300 billion tonnes of coal resources. However, a large portion of this coal is located in areas where traditional mining techniques are not feasible. CBM extraction provides an alternative method of accessing these coal reserves and could help to meet India’s growing energy demands.
The introduction of microbial stimulation technology in the Raniganj CBM block is also in line with the Indian government’s vision of a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. In addition to its renewable energy targets, the government has also announced plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 33-35% by 2030. Increasing the efficiency of gas production through microbial stimulation technology could help to achieve these goals.
Overall, the partnership between EOGEPL, TERI and ONGC Energy Centre to introduce microbial stimulation technology in the Raniganj CBM block is a positive development for India’s energy sector. If successful, it could help to increase gas production, reduce dependence on imported gas and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
