Milestones

Year
Milestones
1993
  • Entered into a MOU and licence agreement with Coal India Limited for exploration and production of Coal Bed Methane ('CBM') for the Raniganj (South) block.
1994
  • Paid a signature bonus of INR 10 million (over US$ 300,000) to Coal India Limited.
1994-98
  • Carried out core-hole exploration and commercial viability tests.
2001
  • Contract for exploration and production of Coal Bed Methane for the Raniganj (South) block signed with Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
  • Petroleum Exploration License signed with West Bengal Government.
2002
  • Started pilot production program of 3 wells.
2004
  • Struck gas in the first well. By July 2004, gas observed in all 3 existing pilot production wells.
2005
  • Completed an offering of GDRs to become the first Indian company to list on the Alternative Investment Market ('AIM') of the London Stock Exchange.
2006
  • Commenced drilling another 20 CBM production wells.
2007
  • First group of 23 wells, including the 3 pilot production wells, completed.
  • First company to commercially market CBM in India.
  • Signed a franchise agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Limited to supply CNG.
  • Delivery of first drilling rig.
2008
  • Commenced drilling another 133 CBM production wells (2008 - 2013).
  • West Bengal Government granted the petroleum mining lease for the Raniganj (South) block.
  • Successfully commissioned Gas Gathering Station ('GGS').
2009
  • Successfully commissioned Central Gathering Station ('CGS').
  • Completed the pipeline from the GGS to the CGS in Asansol.
  • Completed the pipeline from the CGS to Kulti.
  • Completed pipeline from the CGS to Durgapur.
2010
  • Signed a franchise agreement with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited to supply CNG.
  • Shifted the listing of the GDRs from AIM to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
  • Was awarded the Mannargudi block under the CBM - IV licensing round.
  • Contract for exploration and production of Coal Bed Methane for the Mannargudi block signed with the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
2011
  • Delivery of Second drilling rig.
  • Petroleum Exploration License signed for the Mannargudi block with Tamil Nadu Government.
  • GEECL became the first CBM Company in India to receive the Quality, Health & Safety and Environment certification (ISO 9001:2008, OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 14001:2004) for its operations in the Raniganj (South) block and for its Corporate Office at Gurugram.
2012
  • Deviated drilling successfully commissioned.
2014
  • Executed the petroleum mining lease for the Raniganj (South) block with the West Bengal Government.
2018
  • Total OGIP increased from 2.62 TCF to 9.25 TCF for the Raniganj (South) block (CBM OGIP - 2.62 TCF; Shale gas OGIP - 6.63 TCF).
2022
  • Executed an amendment to the petroleum mining lease for the Raniganj (South) block with the West Bengal Government for exploration and production of Shale resources along with CBM.
  • Total OGIP increased from previously estimated 9.25 TCF to 10.62 TCF for the Raniganj (South) block (CBM OGIP - 2.62 TCF; Shale gas OGIP - 8.00 TCF).
2023
  • On 21 April 2023 the GDRs of the Company delisted from London Stock Exchange.