Petrobangla is starting deep drilling on the four onshore gas fields to increase supply and reserves in gas production. They’ve already invited bids for the drilling work. Petrobangla and its subsidiary companies are now reviewing the proposals.

Each well will be drilled to a depth of 5,500 to 6,000 meters. Experts believe each well could produce 15 to 25 million cubic feet of gas daily.

According to Petrobangla sources, four deep wells are planned. Two projects have already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

If everything goes as planned, deep drilling will begin around September or October this year, starting with the Titas-31 well. Next in line are Bakhrabad-11, Srikail-1, and Mubarakpur-1.

When asked about the initiative, Petrobangla director (PSC) and former BAPEX managing director (MD) Md. Shoaib said to Bonik Barta, “To increase gas reserves and supply to the national grid, Petrobangla will drill deep onshore wells. This is the first major project to go this deep. Once the drilling is complete, the gas supply to the grid will be greatly boosted.”

The deep drilling project at Titas and Bakhrabad gas fields was approved last Sunday. The total budget is set at BDT 7.98 billion. BDT 5.586 billion will come from the government, and the remaining BDT 2.394 billion will be funded by Petrobangla’s subsidiary, Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL).

A reliable source from the company said that now that ECNEC has approved the project, the next step is to select a drilling company. Several international companies have already submitted their bids.

Once the selection is complete, it will take another two to three months to import the necessary equipment for the project. Altogether, the results of these deep drilling projects may start to show by the end of this year.

Under the project, Titas-31 will be drilled to 5,600 meters and Bakhrabad-11 to 4,360 meters.

Based on recommendations from technical teams and foreign consultants, Titas is expected to produce about 25 million cubic feet of gas per day. Bakhrabad is expected to yield around 10 million cubic feet daily.

According to BGFCL sources, Titas still holds a significant amount of gas compared to other fields in the country. The Pakistan Shell Oil Company discovered Titas in 1962, and commercial production began in 1968.

Bakhrabad was discovered in 1969 and started commercial production in 1984.

According to Petrobangla, the Titas gas field supplies around 340 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid daily through 26 wells. However, BGFCL says that only 23 wells are currently in production.

About 40 to 45 million cubic feet of gas are supplied daily from the Bakhrabad gas field, which has seven wells producing gas. The Energy Division and Petrobangla are highly optimistic about deep drilling onshore.

Top officials believe that finding large gas reserves at deeper levels could significantly strengthen the country’s energy security.

When asked, Energy Division secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam told Bonik Barta,

“To increase gas supply, deep drilling will occur in the Titas gas field. This is a major initiative for onshore drilling in Bangladesh.”