Shale Oil and Gas in India – Availability and Issues (Micro Notes Format, UPSC GS1 Mains):
Availability of Shale Resources:
- Shale Basins Identified:
- Cambay (Gujarat), Krishna-Godavari (Andhra Pradesh), Cauvery (TN), Damodar Valley (Jharkhand-WB).
- Estimates:
- EIA (2013) estimated ~96 TCF of recoverable shale gas.
- Can potentially meet energy demands for 20–25 years.
Potential Benefits:
- Reduces energy import bill.
- Strengthens energy security.
- Industrial and economic multiplier effect.
- Reduces reliance on coal, aiding climate goals.
Challenges & Issues:
1. Technological:
- Requires advanced horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
- India lacks indigenous expertise; high dependence on foreign tech.
2. Environmental:
- High water requirement – critical in water-scarce regions.
- Risk of groundwater contamination, land degradation, seismic activity.
3. Economic:
- High exploration and production cost; uneconomical under current energy prices.
- Lack of incentives and viable commercial production model.
4. Regulatory:
- Absence of clear shale gas policy till recently.
- Overlapping jurisdictions – land, water, and minerals under different ministries.
5. Infrastructure:
- Poor pipeline and distribution network.
- Land acquisition hurdles in densely populated regions.
Conclusion: While shale oil and gas offer long-term energy potential, environmental, economic, and technological constraints make it a low-priority area currently. A balanced, sustainable roadmap is essential before large-scale exploitation.
