Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Ltd (EOGEPL), a leading E&P company in India specializing in unconventional hydrocarbons, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) recently. This collaboration aims to jointly spearhead research and development initiatives focused on domestic advancements in various advanced Coal Bed Methane (CBM) technologies. CBM has the potential to fulfill India's energy requirements, reducing reliance on conventional fuels while storing CO2 in depleted coal seams. EOGEPL's Raniganj East CBM Block is a valuable asset with substantial CBM gas reserves.

Recognized as a leading example of CBM advancements in India, it has established a loyal customer base relying on its CBM gas supply to sustain their operations. IIT Bombay has gained worldwide acclaim for its outstanding education and innovative research across diverse fields, encompassing science, engineering, design, management, and humanities. The partnership between EOGEPL and IIT Bombay aims to delve into research and development, particularly focusing on potential Enhanced Coal Bed Methane (ECBM) recovery techniques and CO2 sequestration. This joint effort seeks to uncover the complexities of improving coal bed methane processes through inventive experimental and simulation methods.

The proposed research entails advanced reservoir simulation studies using industry-standard software platforms. Additionally, it will explore the development of suitable methodologies for extracting gas from deeper coal seams. The focus extends to examining new enhanced recovery techniques to boost production from existing wells, primarily through studies on CO2-enhanced CBM recovery. Under the MoU, EOGEPL will suggest an initial lineup of research themes. The company will provide necessary funding and data support for the Project and grant access to wells for agreed investigations and research experiments. EOGEPL is committed to jointly pursuing research training programs with IIT Bombay.