The Begumganj-4 (West) well has recoverable gas reserves of about 180 billion cubic feet (BCF) in 3 levels. Chairman of Petrobangla Janendra Nath Sarkar said that if gas is extracted at the rate of 10 to 15 million cubic feet per day, it is possible to supply gas for about 20-25 years.
Drilling of the appraisal and development well began on April 29, 2024. Excavation up to 3113 meters depth revealed presence of gas in 3 layers. First layer thickness 52 m (1921-1973 m), second layer thickness 37 m (2548-2585 m), third layer 20 m (3081-3101 m) gas location identified. After the DST (Drill Stem Test) on September 18, 10 to 19 million cubic feet of gas has been confirmed.
Considering the mixed price of domestic and imported gas at Tk 22.87 (cubic meter), the price of 180 BCF gas is around Tk 11,657 crore. The price of imported LNG at $11.5 (MMBTU) for 180 BCF of gas will be around Tk 7 lakh 3 thousand 386 crores (Tk 120 dollars).
The project cost of drilling No. 4 well in Begumganj is approximately Tk 100 crores. In order to supply the gas obtained from Begumganj-4 (West) well to the regional transmission line, a gas gathering pipe line of approximately 3 km has to be established. The installation is expected to be completed by next December. If 10 to 15 million cubic feet of gas obtained is supplied to Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company, it will be possible to meet the gas demand of the area. Petrobangla believes that it will be possible to supply the gas previously supplied to Dhaka through GTCL’s pipeline to Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company.
Energy experts have been blaming the stagnation of exploration for the gas crisis in the country. Energy experts have come under fire for decades of laxity. But those days are now beginning to change. The opening of Petrobangla has changed during the current chairman Janendra Nath government. On the one hand, as the pace has increased, on the other hand, new dimensions have been added to oil and gas exploration. Sometimes due to shortage of manpower, sometimes due to lack of planning, Bapex rigs would remain idle. But the 5 rigs have been having a busy time for a few months now. Another work area is being prepared without completing one task. Besides, the process of buying another rig has started.
Approximately 99 exploratory wells have been drilled in Bangladesh in 112 years. And Petrobangla has planned to dig 69 wells in the next 3 years. Although many consider it ambitious, energy experts have commented that it is very important. They said that if 1 of 10 wells is drilled and gas is found, it is considered economically successful. There, 3 exploration wells in Bangladesh yielded one gas. However, the search for oil and gas in Bangladesh did not work the same way. That’s why today’s crisis is considered.
Bangladesh once extracted up to 2800 million cubic feet of gas from domestic gas fields. Due to reduced reserves of the fields and various restrictions, it has now come down to 2000 million. LNG imports started in 2018 to meet the shortfall. For this, 2 floating LNG terminals were established at Maheshkhali. But when the sea gets rough, the supply stops.
