Nazmul Likhon with Shafiqul Islam Badal from Nabinagar
State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) has discovered a new gas well at Pak Hajipur village under Laurfatehpur union of Nabinagar upazila in Brahmanbaria district. Mohammad Mohsinul Alam, mining officer at the gas exploration field, confirmed the matter to local journalists on Wednesday. This is the 28th gas well in Bangladesh.
The country is being dogged by gas shortages since a long time now and its gas reserve is depleting day by day. The government is importing costly LNG to meet the country’s gas demand. In this situation, this is a good news for energy sector, Bapex officials said. According to Bapex, they have found new gas reserves at a depth of 3,065 metres. Bapex officials do not know about the exact quantity of gas in the well yet.
Bapex official said they have received 1880 PSI pressure in the exploration oil. After complete of analysis it is possible to disclose information about the actual gas reserve. However, it is expected that around 20 million cubic feet gas may be lifted per day in the gas field. Bapex began digging wells there on August 6 last year. Currently there are four gas wells in the Srikail. Around 35 million cubic feet gas is being lifted from 3 wells out of 4.
In January, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told parliament that the country’s stock of gas reserves will be exhausted in 11 years at the current rate of production. “The country has some 10.63 trillion cubic feet of gas and has a daily production of 2,570 million cubic feet,” he said.
As per the plan, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) has taken the initiative to dig two wells to explore for gas between 2019 to 2021; 13 wells between 2022 to 2030 and 20 wells between 2031 to 2041.
