ONGC Energy Centre (OEC) led team was selected by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology for the prestigious Award in the category “Biotech Product, Process Development and Commercialization Award 2018” for the innovative R&DD Project titled “In situ generation of methane from coal bed through microbial intervention for enhancing the production of CBM wells”. The award was conferred on the OEC team by Hon’ble Union Minister for S&T, Dr. Harshvardhan on 11 May 2018 at the 20th Technology Day Function- 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The team comprises of DGM (Chem) Dr. Nimmi Singh and GM (P) from OEC Puneet Kishore, DGM (P) Madhukar Mohan and Chemist from ONGC Bokaro Asset Anupam Mandal and Dr. Banwari Lal, Dr. Meeta Lavania and Rohit Rathi from TERI.

The OEC-ONGC-TERI team receiving the award from Hon'ble, Minister for S&T Dr. Harshvardhan on 20th Technology Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

In March, 2015, OEC in association with TERI started the R&D project on the development of a microbial process for enhancement of gas production from CBM wells. The material and proof of concept process were developed in the TERI laboratory by enrichment and characterization of methanogenic bacteria, nutrient optimization and compatibility studies. Planning and design of the process for field testing and validation of the developed material in selected CBM well, Jharia#1, was the responsibility of OEC. The field experiments and well performance monitoring system were developed by OEC and implemented in association with TERI and ONGC Bokaro Asset. The Project duration was 30 months, with a budget of Rs. 2.34 Crore.

The Certificate and Plate presented by the Hon'ble Minister

The first field experiment of the Bio-Stimulation process was conducted in Jharia CBM well JH#1 in May 2016. Thereafter, in September, 2016 work-over was required. The continuous enhanced production of gas in Jharia #1 CBM Well is continuing since October 2016 till date. During this period of over 19 months (October 2016 – April 2018) the incremental CBM gas production of about 1.15 MMSCM has been reported by the Bokaro Asset team. During this period the average well production of about 2500 SCMD was reported compared to pre-job level of 528 SCMD, while the production peaked at 6676 SCMD on 17 April 2018. The estimated value of additional gas production is about Rs. 1.43 Cr.  

The demonstration scale microbial field work indicates that the productivity and longevity of CBM well can be maintained/improved by microbial intervention, thus improving the viability of producing gas from these wells/blocks. 

A National Patent and PCT application titled “Methane production from underground Coal Bed Methane wells” has been filed jointly by the ONGC Energy Centre Trust (OECT) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Delhi.

OEC and ONGC officers called on CMD, ONGC who congratulated the team for the award and success of this project.

Based on the success of this project, a follow up Project has been started by OEC in association with TERI & ONGC-Bokaro Asset. This microbial process is to be demonstrated in two more CBM wells of Jharia with main objective to re-validate and test the efficacy of the developed microbial processes and to optimize Standard Operating Procedures to facilitate implementation of the microbial process by Asset in various other CBM wells on a regular basis. This Project is approved by the ONGC Energy Centre Trust.

Another collaborative Project, funded by DST in March 2018, under the Clean Coal R&D (CCORD) -2017, involves Design, development and demonstration of microbial methane generation process suitable for poor to marginally producing CBM wells in Bokaro CBM Block. OEC has received a grant of Rs.  2.79 Crore from DST for the Project.