1
Question
Coalbed Methane (CBM), an unconventional source of natural gas is now considered as an alternative source for augmenting India’s energy resource. Highlighting benefits of CBM, provide an account of its distribution in India.
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Solution
Approach: - In the introduction, Write about Coalbed Methane (CBM)
- Write the advantages of Coal Bed Methane:
- Provide a brief account of CBM Resources in India
Answer:
Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is natural gas found in coal seams and is mainly composed of Methane (CH4) with minor amounts of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and heavier hydrocarbons like ethane.
CBM commonly is referred to as an “unconventional” form of natural gas because it is primarily stored through adsorption to the coal itself rather than in the pore space of the rock, like most “conventional” gas. The gas is released in response to a drop in pressure in the coal.
During earlier years of coal mining activity, this gas was wasted and vented into the atmosphere resulting in greenhouse emissions. It is also a serious safety hazard during coal mining operations. At the same time, it is a precious energy resource and is regarded as an unconventional form of natural gas.
Due to rising energy requirements and being a clean source of energy, CBM has become an important energy resource of global significance over the last few decades with the emergence of active CBM players in countries like Canada, Australia, China and India.
Advantages of Coal Bed Methane:
(i) CBM extraction from coal will stop its emission to the environment thus causing reduction in emissions of greenhouse gas from coal mining.
(ii) CBM as fuel, (because it is essentially methane gas) is considered as a clean fuel which emits carbon-dioxide and water on combustion thus is environmentally safe gas.
(iii) It is called ‘sweet gas’ because of its lack of hydrogen sulphide.
(iv) CBM extraction prior to coal mining helps in making the mining of coal safer by degassing the coal seams/layer.
(v) Extraction of CBM also helps in increasing domestic gas production.
CBM Resources in India:
Coal Bed Methane (CBM), an unconventional source of natural gas is now considered as an alternative source for augmenting India’s energy resource.
India has the fifth-largest proven coal reserves in the world (Directorate General of Hydrocarbons) and thus holds significant prospects for exploration and exploitation of CBM. The prognosticate CBM resources in the country are about 92 TCF (2600 BCM) in 12 states of India.
In order to harness CBM potential in the country, the Government of India formulated CBM policy in 1997 wherein CBM being Natural Gas is explored and exploited under the provisions of Oil Fields (Regulation & Development) Act 1948 (ORD Act 1948) and Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules 1959 (P&NG Rules 1959) administered by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MOP&NG).
The Gondwana sediments of eastern India host the bulk of India’s coal reserves and all the current CBM producing blocks.
The vast majority of the best prospective areas for CBM development are in eastern India, situated in Damodar Koel valley and Son valley.
CBM projects exist in Raniganj South, Raniganj East and Raniganj North areas in the Raniganj coalfield, the Parbatpur block in Jharia coalfield and the East and West Bokaro coalfields. Son valley includes the Sunhat North and Sohagpur East and West blocks.
- In the introduction, Write about Coalbed Methane (CBM)
- Write the advantages of Coal Bed Methane:
- Provide a brief account of CBM Resources in India
Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is natural gas found in coal seams and is mainly composed of Methane (CH4) with minor amounts of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and heavier hydrocarbons like ethane.
CBM commonly is referred to as an “unconventional” form of natural gas because it is primarily stored through adsorption to the coal itself rather than in the pore space of the rock, like most “conventional” gas. The gas is released in response to a drop in pressure in the coal.
During earlier years of coal mining activity, this gas was wasted and vented into the atmosphere resulting in greenhouse emissions. It is also a serious safety hazard during coal mining operations. At the same time, it is a precious energy resource and is regarded as an unconventional form of natural gas.
Due to rising energy requirements and being a clean source of energy, CBM has become an important energy resource of global significance over the last few decades with the emergence of active CBM players in countries like Canada, Australia, China and India.
Advantages of Coal Bed Methane:
(i) CBM extraction from coal will stop its emission to the environment thus causing reduction in emissions of greenhouse gas from coal mining.
(ii) CBM as fuel, (because it is essentially methane gas) is considered as a clean fuel which emits carbon-dioxide and water on combustion thus is environmentally safe gas.
(iii) It is called ‘sweet gas’ because of its lack of hydrogen sulphide.
(iv) CBM extraction prior to coal mining helps in making the mining of coal safer by degassing the coal seams/layer.
(v) Extraction of CBM also helps in increasing domestic gas production.
CBM Resources in India:
Coal Bed Methane (CBM), an unconventional source of natural gas is now considered as an alternative source for augmenting India’s energy resource.
India has the fifth-largest proven coal reserves in the world (Directorate General of Hydrocarbons) and thus holds significant prospects for exploration and exploitation of CBM. The prognosticate CBM resources in the country are about 92 TCF (2600 BCM) in 12 states of India.
In order to harness CBM potential in the country, the Government of India formulated CBM policy in 1997 wherein CBM being Natural Gas is explored and exploited under the provisions of Oil Fields (Regulation & Development) Act 1948 (ORD Act 1948) and Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules 1959 (P&NG Rules 1959) administered by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MOP&NG).
The Gondwana sediments of eastern India host the bulk of India’s coal reserves and all the current CBM producing blocks.
The vast majority of the best prospective areas for CBM development are in eastern India, situated in Damodar Koel valley and Son valley.
CBM projects exist in Raniganj South, Raniganj East and Raniganj North areas in the Raniganj coalfield, the Parbatpur block in Jharia coalfield and the East and West Bokaro coalfields. Son valley includes the Sunhat North and Sohagpur East and West blocks.
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