State-run Petrobangla’s exploration wing Bapex (Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company) has discovered new gas reserves in one of the development wells at Begumgonj in Noakhali.
“We have found new gas reserves at a depth of 2900 metres from the ground. There is gas in three zones of the well area. Currently, we are exploring gas in the second zone. In the first zone we did not find gas which can be commercially be viable.” Abdul Halim, director of the well-drilling project at the Bapex told the Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
Including Begumgonj, Bapex has so far discovered six gas fields.
“After completing a transmission pipeline, we hope to add at least 20 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas to the national grid every day from the gas field within May next year.”
He said, however, the authorities were yet to confirm the quantity of gas in the reserve.
“After analysis we will disclose about the actual gas reserve,” he said.
Gazprom, the Russian state-run gas exploration company had started drilling at Begumgonj at the end of July this year to confirm availability of viable gas reserve. The well’s drilling ended in October, at 3565 metres.
Petrobangla sources said currently more than 2,300 million cubic feet gas was being supplied every day against a daily demand of 2,700-3,000 million cubic feet.
The government in April last year signed a deal with Gazprom on drilling 10 gas wells, spending $193.55 million across the country without any tender under the Power and Energy Quick Supply (special provision) Act.
According to the deal, four wells were to be drilled in Titas gas field of BGFCL, one in Rashidpur gas field of (SGFL), two in Shahbazpur, and one each in Semutang, Begumganj and Srikail of (Bapex).