India, US to Cooperate in Gas Hydrate Exploration

India’s Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Wednesday gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United States for cooperation in gas hydrates for a period of five years. 

“Cooperation with the United States Department of Energy (USDOE) in the field of gas hydrates, will facilitate active participation of the National Gas Hydrate Programme (NGHP) and DOE scientists in data collection, analysis and identification of sites for pilot production testing,” India’s ministry of petroleum and natural gas said in a statement.

The ministry formulated the NGHP in 2000. NGHP Expedition-01 launched in 2006, had established presence of gas hydrates in KG and Mahanadi basins and Andaman deep waters. NGHP Expedition-02 and 03 are under advanced stage of planning and are due in the period 2014 - 2017.  

The cooperation would be under the planned NGHP Expedition-02 and 03 in deep water areas of the Eastern, Western and Andaman Sea.

Exchange of scientific and technical information will help Indian scientists enhance understanding of Indian gas hydrates and keep them abreast with international developments, the ministry added. 

Gas hydrate resources in India are estimated at 1,894 tcm and these deposits occur in Western, Eastern and Andaman offshore areas.