Essar Oil eyes 2X gas production from its coal bed methane block

Essar Oil and Gas Exploration & Production Ltd (EOGEPL) is aiming to more than double its gas production from its coal bed methane block in a little more than a year, its chief executive has said.

Essar’s current output of 0.9 million metric standard cubic meters a day (mmscmd) from Raniganj East block in West Bengal will rise to 2.3-2.4 mmscmd over the next 14-15 months, EOGEPL chief executive Pankaj Kalra said.

The company plans to drill 200 more wells to increase production after having already drilled 350 wells in the block, he said. The company plans to use horizontal drilling for better outcomes.


Natural gas produced from coal bed methane blocks can be sold at market rates.