State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) is showing its capability and positive approach in conducting 3D seismic survey in the onshore blocks and existing gas fields under the project titled ‘3D seismic project of BAPEX’.
However, Project Director Meherul Hasan said, “We already successfully and cost effectively completed 91 percent of our work and hopping to complete the project timely.”
To meet the growing demand for gas, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) took an initiative in 2012 to conduct 3D seismic survey in a total of 2700 sq. km area from December 2012 to November 2019.
Initially MPEMR selected Sunetra land block, Shahbazpur gas field, Habiganj gas field, Srikail gas field, Begumganj-Sundarpur gas field and Narsingdi gas field for conducting the survey, which was 1,950 sq km in total.
Considering the BAPEX’s proposal, the ministry approved Mubarakpur land block by changing Habiganj gas field. Additionally, three new fields were added in the list (Fenchuganj gas field, Rupganj gas field and semutang gas field) after analyzing the geological data and substance. Considering the fact, authorities concerned extended the project by 2 years.
When asked if BAPEX is handling this project clinically, former Managing Director of BAPEX Mortuza Ahmad Faruque said it should be noted as a milestone project for BAPEX. This is the first time for BAPEX to conduct 3D seismic survey, showing its capability for conducting this kind of projects in future.
Apart from that, BAPEX is conducting this project at lower cost than the other 3D seismic survey done before in Bangladesh through the foreign companies, he added.
While talking to Energy & Power, Managing Director of BAPEX Mir Md. Abdul Hannan said this kind of high technical project indirectly helps to increase BAPEX’s capacity and experience. In addition, BAPEX is conducting this project through our local experts without taking any foreign companies.
A source at Petrobangla informed that the company recently made a report where they noted irregularity in fund utilization. However, no specific allegation has been placed in the report.
In this regard, the BAPEX MD said they utilized the funds by following all the rules and regulations. “The cost would have been even higher if we had to hire foreign companies for this job.”
However, the last 3D seismic project titled ‘Appraisal of gas fields (3D seismic)’ used 1,300 people and 50 vehicles where the current project uses 1,250 people and 45 vehicles.
Moreover, BAPEX is conducting the project by using local manpower and experts which is a positive sign to step inch towards capacity building and human resource development, said Mortuza Ahmad Faruque.
Meherul Hasan, however, said BAPEX already completed survey of 2450 sq. km area by spending Tk 9.17 lakh per square km, which is the lowest as compared to the previous projects.
Meherul Hasan informed that from the survey data they have already discovered a new exploratory well in Bhola’s Bheduria upazila, with an estimated reserve of 600 billion cubic feet, which is about 32 km north of the Shahbazpur Gas Field. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared this as 27th gas field in a cabinet committee meeting on 15th January last year.
In addition, Meherul Hasan noted that there is a huge possibility to discover more new wells. According to the data from the survey, it was nearly 1.0 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of additional natural gas reserve, which is the country’s biggest exploration, he added.
Professor of the Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dr Badrul Imam said BAPEX is a growing organization and they are successfully conducting this project with a young team. They need more attention and they need a permanent expert supervisory body to help them.
They are doing a good job in interpreting the collected data though they are consulting with the foreign experts. They successfully located Bhola North by exactly interpreting the data which shows that they have potentiality, said Badrul Imam.
He, however, hoped that this young team will grow in future if they get the proper support and long term guideline from the authorities concerned.
