The Energy and Mineral Resources Division has taken an initiative to conduct 1000 line kilometer 2-D and 70 line kilometer 3-D seismic surveys in the 2022-23 financial year for gas exploration in Bangladesh.
Recently, it was informed in a meeting of the Energy Division, currently Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) under Petrobangla is conducting two 2-D seismic and a 3-D seismic survey. Besides, two 3-D seismic surveys are going on by Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL). Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) has also planned to conduct a 3-D seismic survey.
BAPEX official sources said, preliminary data processing of 1837 line kilometers of data in Block-15 and Block 22 areas has already been done. Data acquisition activities will be started by next November after the completion of the remaining survey work. Besides, preliminary work for Block-6B South and
Block- 10 is in progress. On the other hand, the work of 3-D seismic survey project in Zakiganj and Patharia structure are to start by next November.
Md. Mijanur Rahman, Managing Director of SGFL said that they have taken various steps to complete the 191 square kilometer 3-D seismic survey in Biyanibazar gas field by December next year. A local consultant has already been appointed. An agreement was signed with BGP Inc China National Petroleum Corporation of China on June 15 last to carry out the main works.
“Mobilization of equipment and other accessories has already started. Preliminary field design through field survey has also been done. The main work will start soon after getting approval from the Department of Explosives. Apart from this, necessary equipment and tools have already been imported for 865 square kilometers of 3D seismic data acquisition in acreage block-13 and 14 open area. Data acquisition work will start next month,” he added.
Engr. Md. Shoyeb, Managing Director of BGFCL said “We have taken initiatives to conduct a total of 1450 square kilometers 3-D seismic survey including 875 square kilometers in Habiganj field and adjacent exposed areas, 575 square kilometers in Bakhrabad and Meghna fields. For this, a project titled '3-D Seismic Survey in Habiganj, Bakhrabad and Meghna Fields' has been proposed at an estimated cost of Tk 36,550 lakhs. The proposed project is targeted to be completed by 2026.”
The daily demand for natural gas in the country is around 400 crore cubic feet, while production capacity is 376 crore cubic feet including LNG, with Petrobangla currently supplying only 280 crore cubic feet.
Due to the acute crisis of natural gas, production in industries is being hampered. Other consumers like power plants, fertilizer factories, CNG stations, residential and other sectors in the country are also suffering from a gas crunch.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division is not capable of handling the situation despite gas rationing in different sectors including CNG stations.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has conducted a survey to find out the situation of gas supply and garment production in 64 factories in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur. The survey revealed that the gas pressure in the factories has decreased abnormally in the last two months. They got gas at an average of 1.8 psi. As a result, the production has decreased by 40 to 50 percent.