3 strikes for Ilisha-1: another drill test finds gas

Gas has been found again in new gas well named Ilisha-1

BAPEX, the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited, successfully extracted gas from a separate third level of the well today.

BAPEX extracted gas experimentally from the well for the first time on 28th April.

The well is capable of yielding 20 to 22 million cubic feet of gas daily which may not sound like much in a country where the daily demand runs into the billions, but in the current situation where the government is having to import LNG cargoes every month from the international spot market.

The government has taken various steps to increase domestic gas production to eliminate the energy crisis in the country. The discovery of the Ilisha-1 gas field in Bhola brings hope amidst the high global fuel gas prices and the crisis.

International company Gazprom of Russia conducted the well drilling based on the BAPEX design and location, which was successfully completed through Drill Stem Test at a depth of 3,436 meters.

BAPEX's General Manager of Geophysical Department, Alamgir Hossain, estimates that initially, 20 to 22 million cubic feet of gas can be available from this well daily, with 180 to 220 BCF of gas reserves.

However, further testing will be conducted to determine the actual production per day. The gas reserves in these wells are 1.7 TCF cubic feet.

Currently, only four wells are extracting gas, with 140 MMcf of gas being extracted per day but not fully utilised.