Kailashtila new well may have over 1.6TCF gas: Nasrul

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said an additional 1.6 TCF (trillion cubic feet) of gas is expected to be explored from the 8th well of the Kailashtila gas field in future.

"Kailashtilla gas field earlier had a reserve of 3 TCF. But drilling of the exploratory well may increase its reserve," he said after inspecting the Kailashtila-8 well excavating project in Sylhet on Saturday.

"It will be cost-effective if we don't need to import gas. We want every gas field official to show potential. We expect other gas fields to come forward like Sylhet gas field," Nasrul said.

Managing Director of Sylhet Gas Field Company Mizanur Rahman told the newsmen that seven wells have already been drilled in Kailashtila and gas has been found in each well.

"Over 1 TCF Gas is expected to be found if we dig another 3,500 metres," he said.

Local Parliament Member and former Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and senior officials of Sylhet Gas Field Company, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) were present.

Before inspecting the well, the state minister visited the head office of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited on Saturday morning.

At the same time, he inaugurated the Bangabandhu Corner and Data Center of the Prepaid Meter Project.

He is now on a three-day visit to Sylhet.

During his Sylhet tour, the state minister will visit several gas fields and process plants, and inaugurate model petrol pumps and gas pipelines.

Earlier on January 11 this year, the excavation of the 'Kailashtila-8 well' of Sylhet Gas Field Company started. The well is being drilled by BAPEX.

It is a matter of great hope that the existing pipeline remains at a distance of only one and a half kilometres and a usable process plant at a distance of two and a half kilometres.

/KN/