The yield of the Kailash Tila gas field was on average 69 million cubic feet per day in 2016, but it dropped to 29 million cubic feet in January this year. Extraction from Kailash Tila began in 1983 following its discovery in 1962. Most of the country’s 20 fields are producing less gas than before. Over the years, the authorities suspended extraction from five of them for not sipping out gas.
The country faced a massive gas crisis when the Chevron-operated Bibiyana gas field, the highest gas-producing field, stopped production from six of the 26 wells due to technical glitches last March. Consumers in different areas of Dhaka experienced shortages or low gas pressure from time to time. Three state-owned and two international companies extracted 2,352mmcfd in 2021, down from 2,666mmcfd in 2016. Amid this situation, Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) says the country has had gas reserves for nine to 10 years, assuming consumption of around 1 trillion cubic feet every year. According to Petrobangla data, 28 gas fields discovered so far had a proven reserve of 29.9 trillion cubic feet. Of it, 19.11 TCF gas has already been extracted.
Natural gas is used for cooking, producing fertilizer, generating power, and meeting the needs of industries. The capacity of any gas field or well drops over time. Experts said the drop in gas extraction was a threat to the country’s energy security. They stressed the need for aggressive exploration of new reserves. It was possible to increase the production of at least 40 wells and extract 400-800mmcfd by investing about $125 million, but the government didn’t do it. However, the government has been more focused on importing liquified natural gas (LNG) than on investing in exploration. It seems we don’t want to explore our gas reserves but meet the demand by importing LNG at high prices.
We hit the gas in every three wells drilled when the global average is five. We have at least 40 abandoned wells. If we can invest in overhauling them, we can produce gas and save money by not importing LNG. No comprehensive programme for offshore exploration had been taken up since such exploration began in 1974. Alas, our national interest ended in our pocket and we wishfully become traitors with our national interest in this juggernaut of global energy politics.
