OREANDA-NEWS. April 27, 2012. Public sector oil exploration major, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) is aggressively pursuing technology intensive exploration opportunities including shale gas exploration on the western coast of India. Sudhir Vasudeva, chairman and managing director, ONGC Ltd informed that Cambay region in Gujarat has lot of shale gas potential, which can be explored over a period of time.

"The total shale gas reserves in India is about 63 trillion cubic feet (tcf) recoverable as a study by US Geological Survey had shown. But then again they have come up with further research and now this figure is much less than their earlier estimate. USGS has revised their figures downwards. So this is an area of concern for us and we are willing to work towards that," said Vasudeva at a media interaction at Ahmedabad on Thursday.

ONGC has also entered into an agreement with the US-based ConocoPhillips for cooperation in exploration and development of shale resources in India.
"Today the policy is in the formation. Presently we are into conventional hydrocarbons exploration. If simultaneous exploitation is permitted than such things can be done. Cambay has lot of potential," Vasudeva informed without revealing the reserves in the Cambay basin.

Besides Cambay, ONGC is planning to take up shale gas exploration in other potential shale sequences in basins like Krishna Godavari, Cauvery and Assam-Arakan.

The company is also focusing on deep water exploration in India.

"For ONGC, the next big leap will be the focus on deep water exploration. We are also looking to explore one billion tonnes of reserves of unconventional hydrocarbons," added Vasudeva.

Giving details about company's pilot project of under ground coal gasification (UCG) at Vastan mine located near Surat in Gujarat, Vasudeva further mentioned that the company was awaiting mining lease from the coal ministry.

ONGC had initiated the project in 2005. The project was scheduled be commissioned in 2009-2010. The company had roped in Skochinsky Institute of Mining (SIM) a Russian institute for technical expertise.