GEECL Expects Drilling to Start at Mannargudi CBM Block

Great Eastern Energy Corporation (GEECL) is hopeful of going in for drilling of core wells by this calendar year at its Mannargudi coal bed methane block in Tamil Nadu, Press Trust of India said in a report. Official estimates put gas potential of the block 0.98 TCF (trillion cubic feet).

"Drilling of corewells will start hopefully by this calendar year to study the geology, gas quantum," President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Prashant Modi told reporters. He added that the company had the advantage of existing pipeline infrastructure in the area.

The vertically integrated gas supplier serves around 27 customers including steel plants and glass factories, PTI said. It already has the Raniganj (West Bengal) block under its kitty.

Its plans for the next 12 months included bidding for new acreage, Modi added.