The Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (Bapex) has begun preparations to drill two more wells at Jamalpur-1 gas field in Madarganj upazila after the discovery of gas in the first exploratory well.
A decision on gas extraction and connection to the national transmission network will be made after assessing the reserves and production potential of the two new wells, said Mohammad Mozammel Haque, project director of the Bapex Jamalpur-1 exploratory well drilling project.
He said the first well has the potential to produce an average of 10 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. However, extraction will begin after gas reserves and their commercial viability are confirmed through the additional wells.
Civil works for drilling the two new wells are currently underway. Each well will be drilled at a depth of 2,500 metres, he added.
According to Bapex, gas was first detected through seismic surveys in 1980 in Tartapara village under Balijuri Union of Madarganj upazila. Further seismic data collection and analysis were conducted in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years.
Based on the findings, Bapex began drilling the Jamalpur-1 exploratory well on January 24, 2025. Gas was discovered there on June 1 of the same year.
The first well was drilled at a depth of 2,600 metres, with a gas-bearing layer identified between 1,441 and 1,445 metres. Bapex reported gas pressure of around 7.2 million, although the unit was not specified in the information provided.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the well could produce between 5 million and 10 million cubic feet of gas per day. Depending on the final reserve assessment, the field could potentially supply gas for 12 to 30 years, according to Bapex.
The exploratory well occupies 5.885 acres of land, with the initial exploration activities costing around Tk168 crore. Following the discovery, Bapex planned to drill another exploratory well and a development well. Preparations for both are now underway.
A project proposal for connecting the gas to the national transmission network is being prepared, subject to confirmation of reserves and production potential in the new wells.
Bapex is also considering supplying part of the gas to the Jamuna Fertilizer Company in Tarakandi of Sarishabari upazila.
Officials hope that confirming commercially viable reserves in Madarganj could pave the way for further gas exploration across the Jamuna River. The resumption of activities after a prolonged pause has raised hopes among local residents, who expect the gas field to create employment opportunities and boost the local economy.