A new gas discovery at the Sundalpur-4 appraisal-cum-development well in Noakhali could add around 7 million cubic feet (mmcf) of natural gas to Bangladesh’s national grid each day, according to preliminary estimates.
The discovery was made at Bara Charigaon village in Nabipur union of Senbag Upazila. Mohammad Mozammel Haque, project director of the Sundalpur-4 drilling project, confirmed the discovery on Wednesday, saying a Drill Stem Test (DST) is currently underway.
He said the presence of gas was formally confirmed on Tuesday after gas was ignited at the mouth of the pipe installed at the well following completion of drilling.
“The DST will be completed within the next four to five days. After that, we will be able to confirm the total amount of gas reserves,” Mozammel said.
He said initial estimates indicate that the well could supply around 7 mmcf of gas per day to the national grid.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) confirmed the gas discovery on Tuesday afternoon.
Drilling of the well began on July 28. According to BAPEX sources, the well was drilled to a depth of 1,578 metres using directional drilling and Measurement While Drilling (MWD) technology.
Gas-bearing layers were identified at depths ranging from 1,420 to 1,460 metres.
Earlier, three wells—Sundalpur-1, Sundalpur-2 and Sundalpur-3—were drilled in the Sirajpur area of Companiganj Upazila under the same gas field.
Although the latest well is located in Senbag Upazila, it has been named Sundalpur-4 because it is part of the same underground gas field structure.
