India proclaims first coalbed methane sale

July 16, 2007
London concern Great Eastern Energy Corp. said it has made India's first sale of coalbed methane as compressed natural gas for vehicles in Asansol, West Bengal, 125 miles northwest of Calcutta.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 16 -- London concern Great Eastern Energy Corp. said it has made India's first sale of coalbed methane as compressed natural gas for vehicles in Asansol, West Bengal, 125 miles northwest of Calcutta.

The company said it is receiving $13-15/Mcf for the gas.

Great Eastern has drilled 23 production wells and plans to drill 80 more in phases over 3 years. It holds a CBM license on 210 sq km in the Raniganj coal field in West Bengal, where consulting engineers estimated original gas in place at 1.92 tcf (see map, OGJ, Dec. 13, 2004, p. 35).