Great Eastern Energy announced plans to invest USD 2 billion in its Raniganj (South) block in the state of West Bengal over the next ten years for exploitation of shale reserves. GEECL is planning to commence initial shale gas exploration work of drilling core wells at the block in the first half of next year, before undertaking drilling of pilot production wells. This pipeline is expected to become operational by 2020 and will potentially enable GEECL to have greater market access.