Essar Oil Plans to Boost CBM Output in India by Four Times

Mumbai based private sector energy firm Essar Oil plans to boost coal bed methane (CBM) production in India by four times, news agency Press Trust of India reported Sunday.

"While 120 wells have been already placed on gas production, additional 142 wells have been drilled and presently are at various stages of the hydrofracking- completion-dewatering cycle for gas production increase up to 1.2 million scmd(standard cubic meters per day) over the next few months and 2.5-3 million scmd finally," Essar Oil CEO (E&P) Manish Maheshwari told Press Trust.

In April the company said it has become India's biggest CBM producer when output from its Raniganj block crossed 0.5 million standard cubic metres per day (scmd). Located in West Bengal state, Raniganj block, which is company's flagship asset, has already achieved production of 0.62 million scmd. 

Maheshwari remained optimistic on completing the development programme ahead of the May 2016 deadline as per the contract with the government, Press Trust added.