EMRD plans to develop 7 gas fields thru' BAPEX
Thursday, 20 September 2007
M Azizur Rahman
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has planned to develop seven small gas fields through the state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) in a bid to strengthen the latters' capacity in hydrocarbon exploration.
"We have already sought project proposals from the BAPEX for development of these gas fields to substantially augment gas production to meet the mounting demand throughout the country," a senior EMRD official told the FE.
He said the gas fields planned for development by BAPEX expertise include - Semutang, Kapasia, Shahbazpur, Srikail, Srikail, Sundalpur, Saldanadi and Begumganj.
BAPEX has already sent development project proposals (DPPs) to the EMRD for exploring Semutang and Kapasia gas fields.
The DPPs regarding development of Shahbazpur, Srikail, Sundalpur and Saldanadi gas fields will be prepared and placed to the EMRD soon, said a BAPEX official.
Among the targeted gas fields, the Begumganj field is planned for development through a joint venture of three state-owned gas companies -- Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd (BGFCL), Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd (SGFCL) and BAPEX.
BAPEX will be the working partner of this joint venture project, while the BGFCL and the SGFCL will contribute a significant portion of the total cost from their own resources.
All these gas fields are planned for exploration and development by the BAPEX by June 2010 next.
For development of the BAPEX's gas fields having complicated structures the EMRD has, however, asked BAPEX to consider joint ventures with the international oil companies (IOCs).
In line with the EMRD's direction, the state-owned Petrobangla has recently sent a letter to BAPEX for preparing terms of references (TOR) for establishing joint ventures with the IOCs to develop the risky and complicated structured gas fields in the ring fenced areas to reap the maximum benefit out of these ventures.
The BAPEX's reserved or ring-fenced areas include Sitakundu, Patia, Jaldi, Kapatia, North Bhairab, Hazipur, Kamta, Patharia and Mobarakpur
The BAPEX officials consider Sitakundu, Patharia, Mobarakpur and Jaldi as the gas fields of complicated structures.
Sources said the Sitakundu structure, which is located in block 15, has 48 gas seepages and three oil seepages in the surface.
The IOCs had drilled four wells there nearly a century ago and the Petrobangla drilled one well in 1983.
The Patharia field is located in block 22, while Mobarakpur is located in block 3.
As BAPEX has no significant expertise to drill gas fields having complicated structure, Petrobangla has also asked to explore these fields through joint ventures with interested IOCs to enhance gas supply in the coming years, said a senior Petrobangla official.
Presently the country is producing around 1,600 million cubic feet (mmcfd) gas per day.
Gas demand is projected to go up to 1,800 mmcfd in 2008 and 2,850 mmcfd by 2012.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has planned to develop seven small gas fields through the state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX) in a bid to strengthen the latters' capacity in hydrocarbon exploration.
"We have already sought project proposals from the BAPEX for development of these gas fields to substantially augment gas production to meet the mounting demand throughout the country," a senior EMRD official told the FE.
He said the gas fields planned for development by BAPEX expertise include - Semutang, Kapasia, Shahbazpur, Srikail, Srikail, Sundalpur, Saldanadi and Begumganj.
BAPEX has already sent development project proposals (DPPs) to the EMRD for exploring Semutang and Kapasia gas fields.
The DPPs regarding development of Shahbazpur, Srikail, Sundalpur and Saldanadi gas fields will be prepared and placed to the EMRD soon, said a BAPEX official.
Among the targeted gas fields, the Begumganj field is planned for development through a joint venture of three state-owned gas companies -- Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Ltd (BGFCL), Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd (SGFCL) and BAPEX.
BAPEX will be the working partner of this joint venture project, while the BGFCL and the SGFCL will contribute a significant portion of the total cost from their own resources.
All these gas fields are planned for exploration and development by the BAPEX by June 2010 next.
For development of the BAPEX's gas fields having complicated structures the EMRD has, however, asked BAPEX to consider joint ventures with the international oil companies (IOCs).
In line with the EMRD's direction, the state-owned Petrobangla has recently sent a letter to BAPEX for preparing terms of references (TOR) for establishing joint ventures with the IOCs to develop the risky and complicated structured gas fields in the ring fenced areas to reap the maximum benefit out of these ventures.
The BAPEX's reserved or ring-fenced areas include Sitakundu, Patia, Jaldi, Kapatia, North Bhairab, Hazipur, Kamta, Patharia and Mobarakpur
The BAPEX officials consider Sitakundu, Patharia, Mobarakpur and Jaldi as the gas fields of complicated structures.
Sources said the Sitakundu structure, which is located in block 15, has 48 gas seepages and three oil seepages in the surface.
The IOCs had drilled four wells there nearly a century ago and the Petrobangla drilled one well in 1983.
The Patharia field is located in block 22, while Mobarakpur is located in block 3.
As BAPEX has no significant expertise to drill gas fields having complicated structure, Petrobangla has also asked to explore these fields through joint ventures with interested IOCs to enhance gas supply in the coming years, said a senior Petrobangla official.
Presently the country is producing around 1,600 million cubic feet (mmcfd) gas per day.
Gas demand is projected to go up to 1,800 mmcfd in 2008 and 2,850 mmcfd by 2012.