Innovative Energy Solutions-Shale Gas In India

Abstract

Shale gas is a major domestic option for natural gas of a country where conventional gas reserves had been used up. It is entrapped in between shale formations, having low permeability that makes its commercial production extremely difficult. Major constituent is methane which is utilized for synthesizing Ammonia and Methanol. Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) constituents such as Ethane, Propane and Butane are utilized for Ethylene synthesis. Ethylene synthesized by Shale gas is preferred over that of manufactured by Naphtha.CO2, N2 and H2S are small fraction non-hydrocarbon constituents. Production of shale gas had lowered the dependency of nations to Middle-east for their energy needs but shale production comes at a high cost of environment degradation. About 3% of extracted gas is being released in the atmosphere, fracturing of underlying rocks can induce small earthquakes and quick exhaustion of shale wells in comparison to conventional gas wells are major disadvantages. Fracking fluid being used for Hydraulic Fracking consists of large quantities of water, sand and chemicals. After the process, vital fractions of it left underground can possibly pollute underground water sources. A long term study of the process is still desired in order to reveal exact intricacies of Environment Contamination. A Shaft is drilled into the ground up to the depth of gas bearing layer Fracking fluid is then pumped using high performance pumps. Fluid mixture penetrates into the rock layer and produces innumerable tiny cracks. Water acts as solvent, sand holds up the opening, Chemicals condense water, kill off bacteria and dissolve minerals. Production of shale gas then begins. After the reserve is exhausted, some amount of fracking fluid is pumped in again and then the drill hole is sealed. A general observed fact is that in every hydrocarbon producing nation there is an equal likelihood regarding the presence of shales holding hydrocarbons. As published in the report of EIA, June 2013 amount of shale gas resources in India is 584 tcf and the technically recoverable amount is about 96 tcf (Cambay, Krishna-Godavari, Cauvery, Damodar Valley, Upper Assam, Pranhita-Godawari, Rajasthan and Vindhyan basins). Vital task before shale gas production includes the ultimate analysis of geological properties of shales in order to produce gas/oil from them. In this regard, government with the support of many private agencies had drilled several thousand wells (mainly in Cambay, KG and Cauvery basins).These wells had provided extensive data on extent, depth and nature of shale formations in sedimentary basins. However, a lot of work is still left to actually start commercial production of shale gas on Indian soil.