‘Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is a kind of natural
Se cn ora eet
and industrial applications. especially in sectors
‘other nations. India's proven coal reserves rank fi
important topics for UPSC IAS exam and it covers
‘Natural gas that is recovered from coal beds is called coal bed methane, also]
like coal seam gas, coal-mine methane, and coalbed gas. aS
Itis regarded as a clean energy source, which has cont
Ithas developed into a significant energy souree in nations like the Ui
CBM is methane that has been adsorbed into the solid coal matiin, |
Ithappens in coal mines underground, where it poses signe fieant =
Increasing domestic gas output would benefit from
As aresult of the absence of hydrogen sulphide, itis also refern:d 19 as"
Study in detail about Coal Crscs in In
The various uses of coalbed methane are as follows:
It is employed in the manufacturing of cement, methanol, and otber-pro
Both rolling mills and steel! companies use it.
CBM is also used as compressed natural gas (CNG) auto fuel
Itcan serve as a fertiliser’s raw material.
CBM is an environmentally beneficial source that is employed in the production of ledricity
Study in detail about Renewable en: “ith the linked article!
According to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, India has the fiith-largest proven coal reserves in
the world, which presents substantial opportunities for CBM exploration and production,
+ The projected amount of CBM resources in India is 92 trillion culbie feet (TCR), or 2,600 billion
cubic metres (BCM),AM testbook.com
TatookP
+ 12sstates in India contain the country's coal and CBM reserves. ; =
. Themajority, ‘of the coal and CBM reserves are found in the Gondwana sediments of eastern India.
Study in detail bout Blue Hydrogen here!
Coal Bed Methane Policy
Following the Coal Bed Metha
issued the following notifications te
* Directive for the extension of exploration pha
contracts in 2007, A iy
+ 2011 price and commercial utilisation standatds for CBM,
* Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries have been granted permission to explore and utilise coal
bed methane in 2015 from all coal-bearing locations where they hhaye coal mining leases
Alll varieties of hydrocarbon resources, inéliding conventional atid. unconventional, can be
investigated and exploited under the Hydrocarbon Exploration anc! Licensing Policy, which was
implemented in 2016. ae
+ Framework for Policy for Early CBM Monetization in 2017. OTs
Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries were notified of the consolidated terms and conditions for
the grant of the right to explore and utilise coal bed methane turn all eoal-beariny areas where
they hold coal mining leases in 2018 :
2018 saw the introduction of a policy framework for the exploration and development of
unconventional hydrocarbons on existing acreages covered! by PSCs, CBMs, and nomination
fields.
+ The government announced « framework for p
methods of oil and gas recover
Check out the article on Sale Gas Po.ential in India!
(CBM) Poliey of 1997, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
for exploration and production under CBM
»
2018 to cneourage and reward improved
Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Reserves in India i
The projected CBM resources are scattered throughout 11 States and amount {0 2,600 Billion Cubic
Metres (BCM) or 91.8 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCE). The following are the State-by-State details for CBM
reserves.
Sno.| State
1 | Jharkhand
2 | Rajasthan
3 | Gujarat
4 | Odisha
5 | Chattisgarh
6 | Madhya Pradesh
West Bengal
8 | Tamil Nadu
Page -2The areas of Raniganj South, Raniganj East, and R
coalfield, and the East and West Bokaro coalfields all hay
the East and West blocks of Sohagpur are included in So
What is the future of the Coal Bedi Methane Industr
Coal bed methane is a potential opportunist gas and it contains bright resery :
"uses of coal bed methane such as the manufacturing of eement, and methanol, Iti also used «s compressed
natural gas (CNG) auto fuel, As it is a primary clean energy source of natural
application of CBM can have significant social and financial benefits to India in
Download Current Affairs for UPSC with this link! Z
‘The production of coalbed methane alters the landscape, surface watcrs, and groundwater systems. To
lessen their impact, these changes need to be tracked and managed. Tinvironmental Impavt Statements
have been done, and although being contested, they continue to serve a3 u foundation,
The advantages and disadvantages of’ coal bed methane are listed below
Advantages #
The advantages of coal bed methane are as follows:
+ Lowering emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), as methane is a very powerful GHG
+ Giving access to a valuable supply of clean energy that may be utilised to produce electricity, as
an alternative fuel for cars, and in other industrial and commercial! uses
+ Enhancing mine safety by lowering the mine's explosive gas concentrations
* Generating more money for mine owners when the gas is extracted and sold,
Disadvantages
Large amounts of water are frequently discharged as a consequence of coalbed methane extraction; in
some situations, the water may flood delicate dry habitats, degrade surface water cuality, and reduce
underground water sources. “
AGT | |
The following are challenges and concerns faced with respect to extraction of CBM:
1. Risk of rising greenhouse gas emissions: There is a chance that significant amoun\s.of methane
will leak into the atmosphere during CBM extraction. As a result, it could contribtiteito a rise in
slobal warming. ia
Page-3festbook.com [De serine raion
«+ It is anticipated that a sizeable portion of the world's methane emissions will come from
Meade eect et tyes greater global warming impact per mass than CO2
. Eon the burning of coalbed methane contributes to atmospheric carbon dioxide (C02)
2. Groundwater depletion: Wes ls far CBM extacton may cise lage-scaleauit depression
Be Sree Sean Te ooiced ty lies of groundwater are emoved annually
in Australia for the muufacturing of C
M..3
Also, read the article on Groundwater Resources in Ind Me
ceyeeedt'
oe
ergy source optiofwhen the economic cost
eet ts) eee
+ Before CBM production peaks, coalbed methane wells often generate at lower gas rates
than conventional reservoirs and might be expensive iniitally.. 9 ;
4. _ ‘Greater accident potential: The concentration of extraction-related risks to people ind property
grows|ds the depth of CBM exploitation increases, fi
+ Around the mining cegion, there is a high risk of igniting and methane explosion,
endangering life and property. Si
5. Contamination from generated water As a byproduct of gas extraction, generates! saline water
that is brought to the surface has a very wide range in quality, eR
+ Tt might have unfavourable amounts of dissolved materials such as silts, naturally
‘occurring compounds, heavy metals, and radionuclides that could contaminaie the soil and
surrounding water supplies.
(oe a | S| |
Methane from CBM js a safe and clean gas for the environment. Both domestic gas production and
{greenhouse gas emissions would ine-case as a result, But before consitiering CBM as an alieinative fuel,
in the long run, methods including environmental impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis should be
adopted and applied carefully
Also read the article on M
ne Emissions!
es
bed methane? and
is Previous Year Cudstions yo ani
Q. With reference to two non-conventional ener
consider the following ‘statements: (UPSC 2014)
y sources called ‘co
le gas’,
1, Coal bed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal scarns, while shale gas is a mixture
of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks
2. In India abundant coal bed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found,
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. J only
b, 2only
c. Both 1 and2
Page -4