Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar has organized “An Orientation Workshop on Shale Gas” with the support of Mewbourne School of Petroleum & Geological Engineering (University of Oklahoma, US). Senior policy Makers, delegates from Indian Petroleum Industry, faculty & researchers from PDPU & University of Oklahoma discussed the challenges and prospects of the Shale Gas industry worldwide. The interactive workshop session aimed to address the identification and production challenges confronting upstream, midstream and downstream development and marketing of Shale Gas resources. Workshop will help to provide an invaluable insight into some of the economic and regulatory aspects of shale gas development in India and across the world.
The workshop witnessed renowned speakers from the industry like Dr. A K Balyan (Chief Guest) MD & CEO, Petronet LNG, Dr. Chandra Rai, Director and Eberly Chair Professor MPGE; Dr. Subash Shah, Faculty MPGE, Dr. Carl Sondergeld, Faculty member MPGE, Mr. Anil Swani, V.P Schlumberger Asia Services Ltd., Mr. Prem Sawhney, Chief Operating Officer Essar Group, Mr. Dario Stemberger, Region Technical Specialist, Stimulation B J Services Company, Ms. Arpana Sarkar, Senior Petro physicist Schlumberger Asia Services Ltd.
Few Major topics discussed in the workshop‘re Shale & its importance, Rock Science & Technical cover on some challenging issues of worldwide Petroleum Industry. The two-day workshop is projected how in an era of depleting conventional oil and gas resources, as Shale Gas plays a significant role in meeting global energy demand. To cut down carbon emissions, we must go for Conventional sources like Natural Gas as Shale, LNG, Solar & some other resources. Prof. Chandra Rai Director, MSPGE OU (US) said, Shale is to be considered as the Future of Energy. He briefed on the different aspects of Natural Gas Energy at US & later talked on Shale’s growth engine from early Barnett Shale (US).
India’s dream of Shale Gas is probably to full fill by 2011, Sources. Apart of India’s development on Shale gas, many Indian firms like Reliance & ONGC VDL already bid for Shale Gas fields in US. Reliance is also looking forward for domestic Shale exploration acquisition. On recent Obama’s visit to India, India signed a key technology deal on Shale Gas Exploration in India. Petroleum Ministry already started to plan out about exploration & allocating blocks for Shale Gas by May 2011.
Second day of Workshop - January 7, 2011
On continuation from the first day of Shale Gas Workshop at PDPU, 2nd day especially focused on the brainstorming sessions on Shale Gas Energy Challenges & Future scope of development in India. Session started with parallel paper presentation, as direct web conference from University of Oklahoma, as Prof. Yucel Akkutu presented paper on “Transportation & Gas Storage in Organic Shale”. He basically mentioned his points on sedimentary geology & Organic Shale Gas performance. Later similar session began on “Awareness & Challenges” over Shale Gas development in the Cambay Basin, India.
Prof. G.P Karmakar, Director SPT, PDPU began talks on the main challenges & esteem opportunities of Shale Gas in future. This Session mostly headed with the debates between Industrial & Institutional interfaces. On Industrial side, major participating energy firms are Reliance, Haliburton, Joshi Technologies, GSPC & ONGC. ONGC Shale Gas expert Dr. Babu discussed the plans about the ONGC policies on Shale Gas development in India. His presentation prominently focused on Shale Gas & LNG Imports, future energy for Indian subcontinent. At the present era of Global Warming, these are considered as the foremost sources to balance the environmental cut downs. As whole world burring on green house gases & paving ways to contribute the green & clean environment, here the Shale’s development laid key step in the global green problem.
Further session moved on with Round table conference, with the aim to promote the common platform for the “Shale Gas Research between the Petroleum Universities & Industries”. Both industrial players & faculty agreed on the concept of White Paper presentation on the Shale Gas development. This White paper will later help in the expansion of research in Shale Gas issues. Prof. Chandra Rai talked on Centralized Potential Workforce between the industry & institutions, whereas Prof. Carl from OU emphasized the balance growth on virtual as well as ground topics of Shale Gas developments. SPT Director, Prof. Karmakar later made a statement to start subject to be focused on the Shale Gas Development. The input topic will help students to learn Shale Gas basics & scope in the future’s growth of unconventional sources.
Mr. Kulkarni from Joshi Technology emphasized his points on the lagging infrastructure on the Shale Gas Development. He supported his backup for students on the grounds of academic developments. Academically strong back will further help students to work on Shale Gas scopes in Indian basins. Dr. Shah has too supported his strong rear for students focusing on unconventional issues. Halliburton Country Manager, Mr Sumeet told students to have the best understanding of fundamentals to work for R&Ds in emerging topics. At the end, Prof Sircar concluded the session with the perspective to open the common development platform for the both the universities to work together on Shale Gas explorations and studies.
The workshop witnessed honorary speakers on the second day like:
• Dr. Yucel Akkutlu , Faculty MPGE
• Mr. P K Kulkarni, Project Director, Joshi Technologies
• Prof. G P Karmakar, Director SPT-PDPU
• Dr. V K Rao, Vice President RNRL
• Mr. Sumit Bhat, Counter Manager, Halliburton India
• Mr. Subir Dutta, Sr. Officer- GeoScience, GSPC
• Dr. PVLP Babu, Shale Gas Expert, ONGC
• Mr. R N Pandey, General Manager, GSPC
