Policy Relating to Shale Gas Exploration in India and Environmental Concerns

Abstract

Shale gas is the form of an unconventional natural gas, mostly methane found trapped in shale rocks. As per the US Energy Resources Administration, the large resources of shale gas are in China, Argentina, Algeria, US and Canada.  Though shale gas has emerged as one of the key source of energy but the process of shale gas exploration also poses serious threats to the environment, especially to the water bodies. Extraction process of shale involves the practice of fracking, wherein the deep holes are being drilled in the shale rocks vertically and then horizontally in order to extract more shale gas reserves. This process of fracking causes serious water environmental concerns such as leakage of extraction chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions and contamination of drinking water. Studies conducted by various organizations and renowned universities have suggested that shale greenhouse gas emissions were as high as those of coal. The process of shale extraction requires approx. 5 to 9 million liters of water per extraction activity. Hence, it poses a serious threat to freshwater resources. In order to meet its energy demands, India has also forayed into the exploration and extraction of shale gas. As per the report submitted by NITI Ayog, India has 96 trillion cubic feet of recoverable shale gas reserves at various places such as Cambay, Krishna – Godavari, Cauvery, Damodar Valley, Upper Assam, Assam-Arakan Basin, Rajasthan and Vindhya Basins. In 2013, Government of India through its ministry of petroleum and natural gas permitted ONGC and OIL for shale gas exploration. This paper talks about shale gas exploration in India and its possible threats concerning to environment.