The government, for the first time, moves to search oil and gas in Jessore and Khulna regions to expatiate on oil and gas production, a top official of Petrobangla said.
“Petrobangla will conduct two separate 2-D and 3-D seismic surveys through state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) to explore oil and gas in the regions for the first time since the country’s independence,” Petrobangla Chairman Prof Hossain Monsur told.
He said the Petrobangla is considering exploration the wells in Jessore and Khulna as the government wants to utilise all the sources to solve the country’s energy crisis.
“India has recently conducted a survey to search for gas on Indian soil adjacent to Jessore but failed to locate any gas or oil reserve. However, Petrobangla is also considering seeking gas in the Bangladesh portion of the area,” Hossain Monsur said.
He said the government earlier took a 1230-square kilometre 2D seismic survey project at an estimated cost of Tk 2.5 billion to explore gas at nine separate areas including an area covering 115 square kilometres at Atgram in Jessore. “But the governments initiatives was challenged in the High Court,” he informed.
The Petrobangla is considering conducting an 1850-square kilometer 3D seismic survey at six separate areas of the region, the Petrobangla Chairman said. Officials of Petrobangla said, Bapex wants to go for 3D survey instead of 2D as results 3D survey are more likely to be accurate than 2D survey.
Another official said, Bapex has already efficiently conducted a 995-square kilometre 2D seismic survey and another 735-square kilometre 3D survey in last three years. The state-owned Bapex has prepared a roadmap to drill five exploration wells and 15 development wells in 11 fields to produce additional 330 mmcfd to 425mmcfd gas in 2012-14 under a 20-year roadmap to explore oil and gas in 74 exploratory and development wells in 23 structures on onshore block, officials said.
The government has been producing around 2000mmcfd gas per day against a demand for over 2500mmcfd gas. According to Petrobangla roadmap, the government would be able to balance the demand and supply ratio of gas in 2013.
Source: energybangla
