Chennai, Sep 3 (IANS): Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd is not carrying out any exploration for coal bed methane (CBM) or shale gas in Tamil Nadu, said a senior official.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, director, exploration, A.K.Dwivedi said the company is carrying out seismic survey for acquiring data for oil and gas exploration in the the state's Tiruvarur district.

According to him, ONGC has been given the task of carrying out research and development efforts for exploring and assessing the potential of shale gas in sedimentary basins, and the Cauvery basin is one of the locations for preliminary investigation.

Dwivedi noted that exploration of shale gas can be done only after the government drafts a policy.

He said ONGC has been exploring oil in Tamil Nadu for over 50 years and has set up 31 oil and gas fields, which produce 700 tonnes of oil and 3.8 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.

According to Dwivedi, plans are on to join with British Gas to carry out joint study on setting up exploration in Cauvery Basin Offshore.

He however reiterated that it will be only a joint study and there will be no business proposition.