Although there was a survey for oil and gas exploration in the country, not enough gas wells were drilled. As a result, gas production has not increased.
Exploration activities have been conducted through 2D, 3D and multi-client surveys to find out local gas reserves. However, the survey activities have played little role in increasing the new gas reserves in the country.
Meanwhile, no major gas reserves were found anywhere except Bhola. However, in the last decade and a half, about 50,000 line kilometers (unit of measurement of length of the area under survey) was surveyed for gas exploration in the land and sea of the country. Until 2008, there were 23 gas fields in the country. Now it has increased to 29.
In the last decade and a half, no large gas reserves have been found in the six new gas fields discovered. Among the newly discovered gas fields, the potential and confirmed reserves (2P-Proven and Probable Reserve) of Sundalpur gas field in Noakhali are 50 Billion Cubic Feet (BCF).
Besides, 161 BCF gas reserves are found in Srikail Gas Field of Cumilla, 33 BCF in Rupganj Gas Field, some gas reserves are found in Zakiganj of Sylhet. Apart from this, at least 800 BCF gas reserves have been found in Bhola North and Elisha in Bhola district on the mainland.
But due to lack of pipeline, it cannot be added to the national grid. It is not possible to use that gas in Bhola now. This information is known from the sources of the Department of Energy and Energy Experts.
According to the sources, new wells need to be drilled along with the survey to discover new gas reserves. But no gas well could be drilled in the country's land, especially in the western region and hilly areas. However, if wells were drilled in those areas, there was a big possibility of getting gas reserves.
It was known that Petrobangla has the amount of survey data in the country; it can be understood where this resource is. Wells need to be drilled to ensure the gas reserves. In this regard, Petrobangla can connect foreign companies if they need technical assistance as well as utilizing Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) capabilities. And if this is done, the possibility of obtaining oil and gas also increases.
According to sources, till 2008, 2D seismic survey was done in the area of 20,017 line kilometers in the country for gas and oil exploration. Now it has increased to 32 thousand 315 km (till June 2023). In the last decade and a half, 12,334 new line kilometers of 2D seismic survey has been done. Moreover, till 2008, Petrobangla had information on 3D seismic survey of 1,300 square kilometers area. Now it has increased to about 6,000 square kilometers. As of 2008, geological surveys were conducted in an area of 557 line kilometers. At present, the area stands at 19,868 line kilometers. Moreover, in the last decade and a half, a survey was conducted for oil and gas exploration in 12,932 line kilometers area in the sea. Based on the survey, Petrobangla has invited international tenders for oil and gas exploration in the sea.
According to sources, BAPEX and Petrobangla have a huge amount of data on the oil and gas survey, but it could not be used. Not only the survey, the required number of wells have not been drilled in the last one and a half decades to determine the gas reserves in those areas. Rather, the dependence on LNG import has been increased for easy solution to gas.
At present, 50 new well drilling projects are underway in the country. In the meantime, 176 million cubic feet gas supply has been ensured by drilling 15 wells. Petrobangla has taken initiative to drill 100 new wells. Petrobangla wants to drill the well by 2028. Initiatives have been taken to do this work by using BAPEX to dig gas wells.
Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarkar said the company has taken an initiative to drill 100 new gas wells to increase gas production. The wells will be drilled using 100 percent of BAPEX's rigs. For this, Tk 20,000 crore will be required from 2025 to 2028. It is possible to achieve 100 percent success if this assistance is available from Petrobangla's own fund and the government's allocation for development projects.
Oil as well as gas has been found during drilling of well number 10 under Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL). The well is already prepared for gas extraction. The managing director of SGFL, Mizanur Rahman said this hope.
Experts say that 35 barrels of oil per hour have been found in well number 10 of the Sylhet gas field. From which about 800 barrels of oil will be produced per day. It is estimated that around 15-20 million barrels of oil can be stored in that area. Therefore, the government is taking the initiative to dig oil wells directly to extract this oil.
Energy expert and Dhaka University professor Badrul Imam said, geological studies have shown that Bangladesh has potential for gas. Along with gas there is also potential for oil. But the level of oil is smaller than that of gas. He said that from 1986 to 1994, a total of 550,000 barrels of oil were produced from the country's first oil well discovered in Sylhet. Currently there are no active oil wells in Bangladesh. However, the annual demand of oil in the country is about 72 million tons. If wells are dug in Sylhet it will be of great potential.
ZH
