'New Gas Field' Found in Sylhet

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (Bapex) has discovered the 28th gas field in the country at Zakiganj in Sylhet.

Bapex was able to light the DST (Drill Steam Test) at Anandapur village of the upazila around 10:15 am on Tuesday (June 15).

Bapex project director Kabir Ahmed said gas was initially found in Anandapur village of the upazila. Drill Steam Test (DST) was done at 10:15 am.

He said there is a pressure of 6,000 PSI deep inside the well. And the floating pressure is more than 13 thousand. This well has four levels. The first level test is conducting now.

The project director of Bapex said that 7 million cubic feet of gas pressure was found from 12 noon to 2 pm. Further experiments will continue for the next two days. Then it can be officially said how much gas there is, how much can be extracted.

Earlier, 27 gas fields have been discovered in Bangladesh. The proven reserves in these gas fields are 21.4 TCF and the potential reserves are 6 TCF. Of this, about 18 TCF has been lifted. As such, there are only 3 TCFs left, and the potential reserves are about 7 TCFs.

With 113 wells, about 1 TCF is being extracted every year. Of this, 1,145 MMCFD of 70 wells (daily) of the domestic company and 1,615 MMCFD (million cubic feet) of 45 wells of IOC. About 2,500 million cubic feet of gas is being extracted daily. And now, LNG has to be imported to address the gas shortage.