Answer: 

Introduction:

India is believed to have significant reserves of shale oil and gas, which could potentially meet the country’s energy needs for a quarter-century. Despite the potential, the tapping of these resources does not seem to be high on the agenda.

Body:

Availability of Shale Oil and Gas in India:

• India is estimated to have significant reserves of shale oil and gas, primarily located in the Cambay, Krishna-Godavari, and Cauvery basins. These reserves are estimated to be around 96 trillion cubic feet of gas and 1 billion barrels of oil.
• The extraction of shale oil and gas requires advanced drilling technologies, which are expensive and complex to deploy. The commercial viability of shale gas and oil extraction in India largely depends on the availability of cost-effective and efficient extraction technologies.
• India has significant reserves of coal bed methane [CBM], which can be extracted using similar techniques as shale gas.
• India has the fifth-largest CBM reserves in the world, with an estimated reserve of 2,700 billion cubic meters.

Issues Involved in Tapping Shale Oil and Gas Reserves in India:

Despite having substantial reserves, tapping shale oil and gas reserves in India has been slow due to various reasons, including regulatory issues, environmental concerns, and lack of infrastructure:-

• The regulatory framework for shale gas extraction is not well developed, and the environmental impact of fracking and drilling operations is not fully understood.
• This has led to concerns about potential groundwater contamination and seismic activity.
• The lack of infrastructure, including pipelines, storage facilities, and processing plants, is a significant challenge in the development of shale gas and oil industry in India. This lack of infrastructure has also contributed to the slow progress of CBM extraction in the country.
• The cost of shale gas and oil extraction in India is also relatively high compared to other countries due to the lack of economies of scale, regulatory challenges, and lack of infrastructure.

Conclusion:

India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, there are several challenges that need to be addressed to effectively tap into these resources. These include environmental concerns, the high cost of extraction, and the need for advanced technology and infrastructure. As such, a critical evaluation of the feasibility of shale oil and gas extraction is necessary before making any decisions on their exploitation.

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