Despite large-scale efforts involving 2D, 3D, and multi-client surveys covering approximately 50,000 kilometres of gas lines across land and sea, Bangladesh has seen minimal success in discovering new gas reserves over the past 15 years.
A vernacular Bangla daily reported yesterday that, aside from Bhola, no significant gas finds have been made on the mainland, raising critical questions about the effectiveness of current exploration strategies and the future of Bangladesh’s energy security.
The report said, that while the number of gas fields in the country has increased from 23 to 29 since 2008, the discoveries have yielded relatively modest reserves.
For instance, the Sundalpur field in Noakhali holds just 50 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas, while fields in Cumilla and Rupganj contain similarly small amounts.
Bhola’s North and Ilisha fields are notable exceptions, with reserves of 800 BCF, but the lack of pipeline infrastructure has rendered this gas unusable for the national grid.
Experts opined seismic surveys are valuable for identifying potential reserves. But Bangladesh has failed to follow up on these surveys with adequate well-drilling activities, particularly in unexplored regions such as the western and hilly areas of the country, where significant reserves are believed to lie.
Despite conducting over 12,000 additional line kilometres of 2D seismic surveys and expanding 3D data coverage significantly since 2008, Petrobangla and BAPEX unfortunately have not effectively capitalised on this data.
Petrobangla has initiated 50 well-drilling projects, with 15 wells already completed, supplying 176 million cubic feet of gas.
More ambitiously, it plans to drill 100 new wells by 2028, which will require an investment of 200 billion takas.
It must be emphasized that Petrobangla not only needs to accelerate its drilling efforts but also ensure that the gas reserves already discovered — particularly those in Bhola — are connected to the national grid without further delay.
Bangladesh’s energy needs are growing rapidly, and delays in exploration and infrastructure development could prove costly.
Though the country has vast potential beneath its land and sea, realising this potential requires a strategic shift.
Petrobangla and BAPEX must adopt a more aggressive approach to exploration and drilling, backed by necessary investments and, where needed, foreign expertise.
Only then can Bangladesh hope to meet its energy needs sustainably and avoid the pitfalls of over-reliance on costly imports.