UNB, Dhaka :
After over six months’ delay, state-owned Petrobangla has started its move to launch its drilling works at Koilashtila gas field in Sylhet with a high hope of oil and gas as it announced in 2012 when it was discovered.
According to official sources, Petrobangla’s drilling subsidiary Bapex has been on a full-swing preparation to start the drilling at the field after the holy Eid, which means some time in August.
“Our preparation is at the last stage. Drilling rig-Bijoy-10 — has already reached the project site. Now some civil works are left. We hope, we could start the drilling some time in August,” Bapex managing director Abdul Baki told UNB.
Bapex (Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd) has engaged by Koilashtila field’s operating company Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL), which is also another subsidiary of Petrobangla.
As per Petrobangla’s plan, the drilling work was scheduled to start in December last year. The government has allocated a fund of Tk 200 crore for the drilling works.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally laid the foundation stone at the gas field from a public meeting in September last year (2013). At that time, the authorities concerned announced that the drilling would start either in December 2013 or in January 2014.
The Bapex managing director said they have a plan to drill to a depth of 3,700 meters in the underground with a hope to find both oil and gas.
He also said the drilling could take about three months’ time to complete and reach the target zone to find oil and gas.
In May 2012, Petrobangla chairman Dr Hussain Monsur announced the discovery of oil and gas at a new structure at Koilashtila and its adjacent Haripur field.
He said the Koilashtila field has 12 layers of which 7 layers contain gas deposit while 4 layers have oil deposits and one layer has both oil and gas deposits.
As per his claim, the fields have recoverable oil of 55 million barrels – 44 million barrels in Koilashtila and 11 million barrels in Haripur. The total commercial value of the two reserves is Tk 42,000-45,000 crore against the country’s annual fuel import Tk 60,000-65,000 crore.
While announcing the discovery, the Petrobangla chief had said they would start extracting oil from the two fields in August-September in 2013 on completion of drilling within one year, but they failed to do so. The plan for drilling at Haripur field is yet to be finalised.
Energy experts, however, are always doubtful about any oil or gas discovery before the drilling.
Officials of Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL) said that they will be able to extract around 500 barrels of oil and 25 mmcfd of gas every day from this well from the Koilashtila field if the drilling makes any breakthrough.
Bapex in 2011-12 carried out 3D surveys in Koilashtila, Rashidpur and Haripur. It found oil and gas reserves in several zones below the gas structures in Kailashtila and Haripur.
After over six months’ delay, state-owned Petrobangla has started its move to launch its drilling works at Koilashtila gas field in Sylhet with a high hope of oil and gas as it announced in 2012 when it was discovered.
According to official sources, Petrobangla’s drilling subsidiary Bapex has been on a full-swing preparation to start the drilling at the field after the holy Eid, which means some time in August.
“Our preparation is at the last stage. Drilling rig-Bijoy-10 — has already reached the project site. Now some civil works are left. We hope, we could start the drilling some time in August,” Bapex managing director Abdul Baki told UNB.
Bapex (Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd) has engaged by Koilashtila field’s operating company Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL), which is also another subsidiary of Petrobangla.
As per Petrobangla’s plan, the drilling work was scheduled to start in December last year. The government has allocated a fund of Tk 200 crore for the drilling works.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally laid the foundation stone at the gas field from a public meeting in September last year (2013). At that time, the authorities concerned announced that the drilling would start either in December 2013 or in January 2014.
The Bapex managing director said they have a plan to drill to a depth of 3,700 meters in the underground with a hope to find both oil and gas.
He also said the drilling could take about three months’ time to complete and reach the target zone to find oil and gas.
In May 2012, Petrobangla chairman Dr Hussain Monsur announced the discovery of oil and gas at a new structure at Koilashtila and its adjacent Haripur field.
He said the Koilashtila field has 12 layers of which 7 layers contain gas deposit while 4 layers have oil deposits and one layer has both oil and gas deposits.
As per his claim, the fields have recoverable oil of 55 million barrels – 44 million barrels in Koilashtila and 11 million barrels in Haripur. The total commercial value of the two reserves is Tk 42,000-45,000 crore against the country’s annual fuel import Tk 60,000-65,000 crore.
While announcing the discovery, the Petrobangla chief had said they would start extracting oil from the two fields in August-September in 2013 on completion of drilling within one year, but they failed to do so. The plan for drilling at Haripur field is yet to be finalised.
Energy experts, however, are always doubtful about any oil or gas discovery before the drilling.
Officials of Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL) said that they will be able to extract around 500 barrels of oil and 25 mmcfd of gas every day from this well from the Koilashtila field if the drilling makes any breakthrough.
Bapex in 2011-12 carried out 3D surveys in Koilashtila, Rashidpur and Haripur. It found oil and gas reserves in several zones below the gas structures in Kailashtila and Haripur.
