New gas well found in Noakhali, reserve 97.69 billion cubic feet

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) has found a new gas well named Sundalpur South-1 in Companiganj upazila of Noakhali. The organisation said a total of 97.69 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas is reserved in two zones of the well.

The discovery of gas through flaring was confirmed at the Sundalpur South-1 exploration well located in Rampur union of the upazila on Monday (November 2). There is a possibility of adding 15 million cubic feet of gas daily to the national grid from the well.

According to Bapex sources, the organisation completed the drilling of the well with its own full financing and management. The drilling activities of the well began on the basis of the report of the three-dimensional seismic survey conducted by Bapex under the initiative of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

Drilling work was started on July 8 using Bapex’s Bijoy-10 rig. Gas was found in two zones of the well after drilling to a depth of about 3,289 metres. According to Bapex information, a total of 9,769 crore cubic feet or 97.69 billion cubic feet of gas is reserved in these two zones. According to the current market price at the consumer level, the estimated value of this gas is Tk 5,809 crore.

Project-related officials said it is hoped that about 15 million cubic feet of gas can be supplied daily to the national grid from the well after the tests are completed. They believe uninterrupted gas extraction will be possible from the well for the next 20 years.

Project Director of Sundalpur South-1 exploration well Mohammad Rokibul Hasan confirmed the finding of gas. He said observation and drill stem test (DST) will be conducted for the next 15 days to know whether oil or any other substance is present in the well.