A 15-member team from Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) inspected a gas seepage site in Inani, Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar, on Tuesday, where gas has been burning continuously for the past 15 days.
Following an initial assessment, the team said Bapex’s senior authorities would decide whether the fire could be safely extinguished and whether the gas could be extracted commercially.
The team visited the site in the morning and examined the point of gas emission, soil structure, gas flow and surrounding environment. Representatives of the local administration were also present.
Bapex geologist Nasir Uddin, a member of the team, said: “We have completed 15 days of observation and preliminary assessment. Bapex’s senior authorities will now decide how to safely extinguish the fire and whether commercial gas extraction is feasible.”
He said the team had collected data on the nature and pressure of the gas, the sustainability of the flow and potential reserves. Further technical tests may be conducted if necessary before deciding on the next steps.
Local residents, including Jasim Uddin, Mohammad Ali and Tarek Ullah, said the continuous burning had initially caused panic, but the site was now attracting growing numbers of curious visitors every day.
They called for a permanent solution to bring the fire under control and ensure the safety of the surrounding area.
Experts say the discovery of natural gas does not mean it can be immediately extracted or that the fire can be extinguished without proper assessment. Geological and engineering tests are needed to determine the volume of reserves, pressure, quality and commercial viability before any extraction plan is drawn up.
Local residents hope that if sufficient reserves are confirmed in Inani, the discovery could open up new prospects for the country's energy sector.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the site, and people have been advised to maintain a safe distance.
