National Gas Hydrate Programme (NGHP) is of national importance considering India’s phenomenal growing energy demand. The programme was initiated in 1997 with a Steering Committee and a Technical Committee of NGHP for implementing the programme.  Based on the review of seismic data by the Technical Committee, two areas in Indian waters, one along East Coast and other on West Coast have been identified as “Model Laboratory Areas”  for further R&D work.  DGH is the coordinator of the programme.  Review of various projects under this programme is done by a Steering Committee set up by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. OIDB has so far given grant to the tune of Rs.140 crore approximately against a sanctioned amount of Rs.200 crore approximately for various activities under NGHP upto 31.03.2010. 

Based on Geo-physical, Geological and Geo-chemical data,  NGHP identified four offshsore areas for gas hydrate coring/drilling operations.  Dedicated operations were carried out in these areas during April, 2006 to August, 2006 through a consortium consisting of Overseas Drilling Limited, Fugro, McClelland Marine Geosciences, Geo-TeK Limited, Lamont, Doherthy, Earth Observatory and scientists from numerous universities and national laboratories.  

The NGHP efforts in Indian Offshore has led to the following :

i)  Conducted comprehensive analyses of gas-hydrate-bearing marine sediments in both passive continental margin and marine accretionary wedge settings;

ii)   Discovered gas hydrate in numerous complex geologic settings and collected an unprecedented number of gas hydrate cores (more than 2800 m from 21 sites and 39 holes);

iii) Delineated and sampled one of the richest marine gas hydrate accumulations yet discovered in the world (Krishna-Godavari Basin) ;

iv) Discovered one of the thickest and deepest gas hydrate occurrences yet known  which revealed gas-hydrate-bearing volcanic ash layers as deep as 600 meters below the seafloor;

v) Established the existence of a fully developed gas hydrate system in the Mahanadi basin of the Bay of Bengal;

The studies were completed by January, 2008.  M/s GAIL, OIL and ONGC have  contributed  Rs.19 crore (approximatley) each towards the project.