Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory (BGRL)

12.07.2024

Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory (BGRL)

Why in the news?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory is executing India’s scientific deep drilling programme in Karad, Maharashtra.

About Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory (BGRL):

• The BGRL in Karad, Maharashtra, is a specialized institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences mandated to execute India’s sole scientific deep-drilling programme.
• Under BGRL, the aim is to drill the earth’s crust to a depth of 6 km and conduct studies to help expand the understanding of reservoir-triggered earthquakes in the Koyna-Warna region of Maharashtra.
• This region has been experiencing frequent earthquakes since the Shivaji Sagar Lake, or the Koyna Dam, was impounded in 1962.
• BGRL’s 3-km-deep pilot borehole in Koyna is complete; the Ministry of Earth Sciences is committed to reaching a depth of 6 km.
• It employs a unique drilling strategy—a hybrid of mud rotary drilling and air hammering.

Benefits of a deep-drilling mission:

• Scientifically drilled boreholes can be a hub of direct, unique in situ experiments and observations and monitor a region’s fault lines and seismic behaviour.
• They also provide exact and fundamental knowledge of the composition of the earth’s crust, structure, and processes, and help validate models based on surface studies.
• Thus, it can inform a range of societal problems related to geohazards and geo-resources.
• It can also help expand scientific know-how and technological innovation, especially in seismology (the study of earthquakes).
• It can also spur the development of tools and equipment for drilling, observation, data analysis, sensors, etc.

                                                                  Source: The Hindu

Ques :- Consider the following statements with reference to the Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory (BGRL):

Statement-I

It is a specialized institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences mandated to execute India’s sole scientific deep-drilling programme.

Statement-II

It aims to drill the earth’s crust to a depth of 6 km in the Bhuj region of Gujarat.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer C