Total set to launch HC exploration in the Bay
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
M Azizur Rahman
The French oil giant Total is set to begin its Bangladesh operations for hydrocarbon exploration in its designated gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal from November this year.
"Total has already submitted its work plan to Petrobangla regarding its preparatory works of seismic surveys in blocks 17 and 18 in the Bay," a senior Petrobangla official said.
He said the company has planned to conduct seismic surveys in both the gas blocks with a total surface area of nearly 14,000 square kilometres.
Total, in March last, acquired the stakes of Irish company Tullow in the offshore blocks 17 and 18 and obtained government approval for extending the exploration period mentioned in the production sharing contract (PSC) by three years until May 5, 2009.
The acquisition has left Tullow with 32 per cent stakes, US-based Okland 8.0 per cent and Total the remaining 60 per cent in the offshore blocks 17 and 18 that cover 13,724 sq km and lie south of the Sangu gas field off Cox's Bazar sea resort town.
Total has also been given the operational responsibility of these two gas blocks by Tullow.
Total will review the existing geological data relating to the contract area and conduct three-dimension (3D) seismic surveys up to 1,000 square kilometres that include data acquisition, processing and interpretation.
Total will carry out and process 200 line kilometres of 2D multifold seismic coverage and 50 line kilometres of 3D multifold seismic coverage.
The company will drill one exploratory well to a depth of at least 3,000 meters in the Bay to find new gas reserves in the structure, if any.
The previous operator of blocks 17 and 18 - Tullow - has so far conducted seismic survey in the blocks and invested $7.0 million, company sources said.
It also attained clearance from the Department of Environment for carrying out seismic surveys near the ecologically sensitive St Martin's Island under the block areas.
Sources said there is a prospect of gas reserve of several trillion cubic feet (TCF), as the neighbouring Myanmar's gas blocks are located alongside blocks 17 and 18.
The French oil giant Total is set to begin its Bangladesh operations for hydrocarbon exploration in its designated gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal from November this year.
"Total has already submitted its work plan to Petrobangla regarding its preparatory works of seismic surveys in blocks 17 and 18 in the Bay," a senior Petrobangla official said.
He said the company has planned to conduct seismic surveys in both the gas blocks with a total surface area of nearly 14,000 square kilometres.
Total, in March last, acquired the stakes of Irish company Tullow in the offshore blocks 17 and 18 and obtained government approval for extending the exploration period mentioned in the production sharing contract (PSC) by three years until May 5, 2009.
The acquisition has left Tullow with 32 per cent stakes, US-based Okland 8.0 per cent and Total the remaining 60 per cent in the offshore blocks 17 and 18 that cover 13,724 sq km and lie south of the Sangu gas field off Cox's Bazar sea resort town.
Total has also been given the operational responsibility of these two gas blocks by Tullow.
Total will review the existing geological data relating to the contract area and conduct three-dimension (3D) seismic surveys up to 1,000 square kilometres that include data acquisition, processing and interpretation.
Total will carry out and process 200 line kilometres of 2D multifold seismic coverage and 50 line kilometres of 3D multifold seismic coverage.
The company will drill one exploratory well to a depth of at least 3,000 meters in the Bay to find new gas reserves in the structure, if any.
The previous operator of blocks 17 and 18 - Tullow - has so far conducted seismic survey in the blocks and invested $7.0 million, company sources said.
It also attained clearance from the Department of Environment for carrying out seismic surveys near the ecologically sensitive St Martin's Island under the block areas.
Sources said there is a prospect of gas reserve of several trillion cubic feet (TCF), as the neighbouring Myanmar's gas blocks are located alongside blocks 17 and 18.