Special plans for gas exploration on land

The government has placed a strong emphasis on the exploration of domestic natural resources in light of the crisis brought on by the rise in energy prices on the global market and the country's scarcity of its own gas supply as a result of worldwide instability, especially the war in Europe. Petrobangla has developed a unique strategy to locate and extract underground gas. By drilling 46 wells, the company hopes to expand daily gas production to 62 crore cubic feet by 2025.

Out of these, drilling will take place in 17 exploration, 12 development, and 17 workover wells. Additionally, seismic surveys in two- and three- dimensions have been carried out in various regions of the country. However, stakeholders believe that with more funding and equipment, such as strong drilling machines (rigs), the exploration capability would have improved.

According to energy specialist and geologist Professor Badrul Imam, survey data from various periods demonstrates that Bangladesh is one of the world's gas-prone regions. In this country, one of three wells will yield gas, compared to five in other parts of the planet. Despite this, the government lacked sufficient search operations for gas exploration. The size of Bangladesh is 14 times larger than that of Tripura, an Indian state. In Tripura, 170 exploration wells totaling 10,000 square kilometers have been dug so far. And in the previous 112 years, Bangladesh has only seen the drilling of 96 exploratory wells. In the 52 years since the country's independence, 41 exploratory wells have been excavated.

He informed that the key areas for gas exploration and extraction were the Surma Basin of Sylhet, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, and Narsingdi. Oil and gas exploration in the Bengal basin has not been as active in comparison. According to Badrul Imam, this basin's Barisal, Faridpur, Bhola and neighbouring islands, Meghna river basin, etc., hold great promise. He placed special emphasis on this basin's gas exploration.

A good number of steps have been done to improve gas output in the nation, according to Nazmul Ahsan, chairman of Petrobangla. In a short period of time, it is anticipated that domestic gas production would rise significantly. Due to the decreased reliance on pricey LNG imports, foreign exchange will be conserved.

Bapex Managing Director (MD) Mohammad Ali said that new well drilling and workover initiatives have been taken in various gas fields of the country. According to this plan, work will be done throughout the year.

A total of 21 gas fields in the country currently produce 232 crore cubic feet of gas per day. From 17 fields owned by three domestic businesses, a total of 83 crore cubic feet of gas are accessible. Four fields controlled by Chevron and Tallo, two international corporations, generate 149 crore cubic feet of gas annually. In addition, 58 crore cubic feet of imported LNG are available.

Petrobangla's plan: The state-owned corporation Petrobangla is once again engaged in oil and gas exploration. Five wells will be drilled in Bapex's gas field and one in Sylhet Gasfields Company's (SGFL) field this year. Gas production can rise by six crore cubic feet per day by the end of the year. Next year, BAPEX intends to drill five wells, SGFL six, and Bangladesh Gasfields Company (BGFCL) four.

Petrobangla anticipates that these 15 wells will result in a daily production increase of 21.7 crore cubic feet of gas. In 2024, BAPEX might drill six, BGFCL four and SGFL four wells. Production might rise by 17.6 crore cubic feet per day that year as a result. BAPEX will drill four wells, BGFCL four and Sylhet Gas three in 2025. By 16.3 crore cubic feet per day, this can enhance the supply of gas to the national grid.

Additionally, towards the end of this year, foreign company Chevron may dig one exploration well in an uncharted region of Bibiana. The US-based multinational corporation will drill three development wells if the test is successful. The biggest gas field in Bangladesh is Bibiana. Here, 26 wells are used to extract 124 crore cubic feet of gas per day. In addition, two exploration wells are planned to be drilled by the Indian company ONGC in the shallow sea blocks 4 and 9. Sinopec, a Chinese corporation, is supposed to drill well number 10 in the Sylhet gas field.

Ongoing Activities: Last Friday, the Russian company Gazprom began drilling an exploration well called Tagbi-1 in the Bapex gas field in Bhola in accordance with the plan. Preparations are underway to drill North-East-1 well in Srikail gas field of Bapex. The exploratory well will be drilled with Bijoy-12 rig. The Bijoy-18 rig is working on the Semutang 5 well owned by Bapex. Once this is completed, the same rig will start workover on the Semutang-6 well. This year, the Bijoy-10 rig is being relocated from Fenchuganj to Shariatpur. Here, Shariatpur-1, an exploration well, will be dug. Workover operations will begin in Beanibazar in September with the Bijoy-11 rig.

Recent developments: In the past year, Petrobangla has added five workover wells, one development well, and one exploration well, increasing gas supply by three-five crore cubic feet. Among those, new gas was found in Sylhet No. 9 well. Here, five million cubic feet of gas are extracted. Around 1.6 billion cubic feet of gas are being produced in workover from the Fenchuganj 3 and 4 wells. Kailastila Well No. 7 is being used to extract one crore cubic feet of gas. The Shrikail No. 4 well has a gas supply of two crore cubic feet.

Seismic Survey: BAPEX is conducting two- and three-dimensional seismic survey activities across the country in an effort to find new gas resources, assess the reserves of current fields, and conduct gas exploration at new levels. Seismic survey work is now being done under blocks 15 and 22 in Feni and Chittagong. Blocks 6B and 10 of the Barisal-Chandpur region will undergo a seismic survey in November. This year, BAPEX will carry out three-dimensional seismic survey operations in Zakiganj of Sylhet and Patharia of Sunamganj.

(Translated by: Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Sub-Editor, Samakal Online)