Reliance Industries Begins CBM Test Production in India

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has commenced test production of coal bed methane (CBM) at its two blocks in Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Mint, a business daily reported citing company sources.

The two blocks, Sohagpur East and West, were allocated to the company in 2001. Commercial production is expected to begin soon.

Gas would be injected into 302-km pipeline from Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh to Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh. Customers are likely to receive the gas starting May.

The gross in-place CBM potentials of RIL’s Sohagpur East block is 1.69 trillion cubic feet (47.7 billion cubic metres) while it is 1.96 trillion cubic feet (55.5 billion cubic metres) for the Sohagpur West acreage.

The initial gas output from RIL’s blocks would be less than 1 million metric standard cubic metres of gas per day (mmscmd), Mint added. Peak output is envisaged at 2.5-3 mmscmd in two years from production.

Currently, GEECL and Essar Oil are two other private sector firms producing CBM in India.