ONGC has discovered shale gas at the Barren Measure shale, at Icchapur, near Durgapur, West Bengal.
In a statement issued here, the company said that the gas flowed at a depth of around 1,700 m , in its first research and development well RNSG-1, on January 25.
“Though the well is still under assessment, the breakthrough is significant as India is the first Asian country where gas was discovered from shale outside US and Canada,” the company said.
Relevant permissions were taken from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for carrying out such an operation, the company said, adding that “the estimated expenditure is about Rs 168 crore, and the total project is expected to be completed within 520 days.”