Bapex mulls 3D seismic surveys for Chevron

State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) is planning to carry out three-dimensional (3D) seismic surveys on contract basis for US-based Chevron, a top official said.

"We are in talks to conduct around 400 square kilometre 3D survey at Jalalabad gas field of Chevron in northeastern Sylhet region," Bapex Managing Director Md Abdul Baqi told the FE.

He said Bapex is also in negotiation to carry out 90 line kilometre (LK) 2D seismic survey in Chevron's Bibiyana gas field.

Chevron is eyeing to drill more wells in Jalalabad and Bibiyana gas fields after carrying out 3D surveys.

Final deal over carrying out the seismic surveys would be completed soon, Bapex official hoped.

This would be the first ever deal of Bapex to carry out 3D for any international oil companies (IOCs) on contract basis. Bapex started conducting 3D in state-owned gas fields with the help of French consultant CGG Veritas in late 2010.

It has successfully completed 3D in five gas fields -- Rashidpur, Kailashtila, Sylhet, Titas and Bakhrabad gas fields last year.

State-owned Petrobangla has moved to drill new wells in all the five gas fields on the basis of 3D.

These gas fields were discovered about four decades ago in 1960s and no seismic surveys were conducted then to trace out their actual reserves.

The 3D surveys in these gas fields helped determine the potential gas reserves in these fields, a senior Petrobangla official said.