Cairn seeks permission to conduct survey in Block 16

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M Azizur Rahman
The British Cairn Energy has sought a renewed government approval to extensively conduct a survey in its offshore Meghnama gas field under Block 16 on the expectation that the potential of locating oil and gas reserves there is pretty high.
"We have received the Cairn Energy's latest proposal last week regarding its renewed interest to conduct a three dimension (3D) survey to pin point gas reserves in Meghnama field," a senior Petrobangla official told the FE Monday.
The Cairn was subsequently asked to submit a detailed work plan on its proposed survey in the Meghnama gas structure, he said.
The Cairn proposal to conduct 3D survey in Meghnama came weeks after it failed to locate substantial gas following a 2D survey and drilling an exploratory well to the depth of 4 kilometre.
"But this time Cairn to carry out plans extensive survey and drill much deeper into the Bay," the Petrobangla official said.
Lured by its new partner the Australian oil and gas major- Santos - the Cairn might have planned further exploration in Meghnama field, he assumed.
Santos owns similar stakes as Cairn owns in block 16 that covers Meghnama, Hatiya and Bangladesh's lone operational offshore gas field Sangu, where Cairn retains the operational rights.
Meghnama is considered as one of the country's gas-rich offshore field in the Bay as a seismic survey revealed that it has a potential reserve of around 3.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) gas.
"It is good to see that the Cairn energy has intended to conduct extensive survey in the Meghnama structure to explore the country's offshore potentials," Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser M Tamim told the FE Monday.
He said the government always welcomes such effort from any international oil and gas companies to explore the country's gas reserve potentials.
A joint review committee (JRC) meeting scheduled for February 17 next would decide on the Cairn's renewed exploration plan.
If approved, Cairn would start working on it as soon as the survey in Hatiya structure under the same block is completed, Petrobangla official said.
The result of present development and drilling at Hatiya might be available early next month, he added.
A seismic survey earlier predicted that the Hatiya structure might have 1.8 TCF gas. Country's total gas production is now around 1700 mmcfd, with a shortfall of 100 mmcfd in demand.