Research indicates significant potential for shale gas production in Jharkhand – Times of India

NEW DELHI: A study released by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Thursday points to significant impacts shale gas generation potential in the east South Karanpura Basin in Jharkhand.
The study was conducted by Lucknow-based scientists Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences (BSIP), also provides key insights that can guide future exploration efforts in the region and contribute to energy resource development nationally energy security.
Shale gas is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, mainly methane, trapped in shale rock formations. It is extracted through a process called hydraulic fracturing, which uses water.
The South Karanpura coalfield in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, comprising 28 major coal blocks, is known for its significant reserves of workable coal. “However, with rising energy demand and growing interest in hydrocarbon exploration, the focus has increasingly shifted to the potential for methane/shale gas production (unconventional resources) in this region,” the ministry said in a note on the study, published in Journal of Asian Earth Sciences-X.
It said: “This push for green energy requires an environment conducive to the conservation of hydrocarbons, which is critical to the country’s energy strategy.”
Scientists from BSIP, an autonomous institution of the ministry, conducted a comprehensive study involving analysis of microscopic remains such as pollen, spores and certain microscopic organic matter on sediments from Sirka and Giddi C areas of Damodar basin.
The ministry said the collected sediments, belonging to the Permian (Barakar) deposits, indicate favorable conditions for high hydrocarbon potential in the region.