With reference to two non conventional energy sources called `coalbed 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 on

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Q: 38 (IAS/2014)
With reference to two non conventional energy sources called 'coalbed 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_subject: 

Geography

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,126,218,125,20,73,126

keywords: 

{'abundant coal bed methane sources': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'shale gas sources': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'coal bed methane': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'shale gas': [0, 0, 0, 4], 'pure methane gas': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'methane': [0, 0, 0, 5], 'non conventional energy sources': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'sedimentary rocks': [1, 0, 3, 1], 'coal seams': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'propane': [1, 0, 4, 4], 'butane': [0, 0, 5, 5]}

The first statement is incorrect because while coalbed methane is indeed extracted from coal seams, it is not pure methane gas. It often contains small amounts of other gases. Additionally, shale gas is not only composed of propane and butane. It predominantly consists of methane. These gases are extracted from shale formations, which are fine-grained sedimentary rocks.

The second statement is also incorrect. India has ample reserves of both coal bed methane and shale gas. In fact, the potential for shale gas extraction in India is estimated to be high owing to the country`s vast reserves of shale formations, particularly in the Gangetic plains, Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and the offshore areas along both the Eastern and Western Indian coastlines.

So, neither of the statements are accurate, thus option 4 (Neither 1 nor 2) is the correct answer.

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