Location & field data

The block is spread over an area of 500 sq. km located in the coaliferous belt of the Eastern Raniganj Coalfields. The estimated reserves are about 42 BCM.

Ownership

Essar has 100% ownership, with Gardes Energy, US as the drilling technology partner.

Current status

• Work programme includes 120 LKM of 2D HRSS, drilling of 12 core holes and 15 test wells
• Planning for first under-balanced horizontal multi-lateral well is underway

Research & Development

Essar was the first Indian company to recognise the potential of CBM in India in the late 1980s and wanted to undertake CBM drilling. Discussions were held with various CBM producers in the USA and a study was closely monitored by ARI. Three wells were drilled, hydro-fractured and de-watered in Cambay Basin to successfully test the lignito-bituminous coals. The economic viability of the project has been established. The efforts were supported by GIIC; the project was sponsored by USAID under PACER.