With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called 'coalbed methane' and 'shale gas', consider the following statements : 1. Coalbed 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 coalbed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A
1 only
B
2 only
C
Both 1 and 2
D
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer
Explanation
Option (d) is correct because both statements are factually inaccurate: shale gas is primarily composed of methane (not just propane and butane), and India has identified several potential shale gas basins including Cambay, Krishna-Godavari, and Cauvery. Statement 1 is a common trap because it uses the restrictive word "only" to mischaracterize the chemical composition of shale gas, while Statement 2 ignores established geological surveys by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons. The core concept being tested is the chemical properties and domestic availability of non-conventional hydrocarbon resources in India.
Energy ResourcesNon-conventional Hydrocarbon SourcesCoalbed methaneshale gasmethanepropanebutanesedimentary rocksIndiasources