Great Eastern's 650-well CBM campaign
Great Eastern Energy Corporation (GEEC) is seeking environmental clearance to drill 650 wells at its Raniganj (South) CBM block in West Bengal.
On September 11 (2023), the West Bengal Pollution Control Board will hold the last of three public hearings to clear the programme at Shyamdihi village in Paschim Bardhaman district. Two hearings were held on September 1 (2023) at Mejia village in Bankura district and on August 29 (2023) at Poradhia village in Purulia district.
A 346-page draft EIA prepared by Vadodara-based Kadam Environmental Consultants in May 2023 says: "Given present gas demand in the Asansol and Durgapur region and the expected growth, GEEC has decided to expand the facilities by proposing 650 CBM wells and other facilities to supply customers." After receiving all approvals, GEEC aims to begin its campaign from 2023-24, targeting 50 to 60 wells each year, drilling round the clock.
"GEEC intends to drill wells to about 1100 meters," reads the EIA. "Each well would take around eight to ten days to complete."
GEEC might drill multiple wells from a single site (pad). "Mobile drilling rigs of 750-1200-HP will be used to drill the wells," adds the EIA.
"About 15 people will be deployed at the drilling site for up to 10 years to complete the proposed development plan." Under the estimated Rs6500cr ($787m) project, GEEC will set up five Gas Gathering Stations (GGS) to process and compress CBM and five Central Gas Stations (CGS) to distribute compressed gas to customers.
In addition, it will lay plastic pipelines to connect producing wells to the GGS and steel pipelines to connect the GGS to customers. According to a 53-page Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) prepared in July 2022, Raniganj produces 320,000 cm/d from 156 wells.