With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coal bed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following statements: 1. Coal bed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks. 2. In India abundant coal bed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

QUESTION

Hard

Indian Geography

Prelims 2014

With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coal bed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following statements:

Coal bed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
In India abundant coal bed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Coal bed methane is indeed pure methane gas extracted from coal seams. However, shale gas is not a mixture of propane and butane only. Shale gas is primarily composed of methane, similar to coal bed methane, and can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks, specifically shale formations. So, the first part of the statement is correct but the second part is incorrect.

It's not accurate to say that no shale gas sources have been found in India. While it's true that coal bed methane sources are abundant in India, shale gas sources have also been identified, although their exploitation is at a nascent stage compared to coal bed methane.

Therefore, neither of the statements is entirely correct.

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