As Bangladesh grapples with dwindling domestic gas supplies, the imminent commissioning of the Sylhet-10 gas well offers a rare glimmer of optimism.
Located in Jaintapur, Sylhet, the well is projected to produce 20–25 million cubic feet (MMCF) of gas per day once it becomes operational later this month.
The drilling of the well concluded in November 2023, but the absence of a pipeline delayed gas extraction.
A project to install a six-inch-diameter pipeline from Sylhet-10 to Haripur was undertaken, with construction initially slated for completion by December.
However, delays arose due to pending road-cutting approvals from the Roads and Highways Department.
According to Petrobangla Chairman Rezanur Rahman, pipeline construction is now in its final stages, and commissioning is expected within February.
"The remaining work, including river crossings, is progressing rapidly, and gas supply is targeted for the last week of the month," he stated.
Delays Due to Road-Cutting Approvals
Sylhet Gas Fields Company Managing Director Engineer Md Rezaul Islam said that the project suffered setbacks due to a lack of written approvals from the Roads and Highways Department.
"Although we have yet to receive formal permission, work is proceeding based on verbal directives. One of the two river crossings has been completed, while work on the second is ongoing," he added.
The extracted gas will be transported to Haripur’s processing plant before being supplied to the national grid.
The Haripur plant has a processing capacity of 65 MMCF per day but is currently handling only 13 MMCF, indicating that even with Sylhet-10’s additional supply, it will remain underutilised.
Oil Discovery at Sylhet-10
In a significant development, Sylhet-10 has also yielded oil reserves alongside gas.
Tests confirmed three distinct gas-bearing layers at depths of 2,460–2,475 metres, 2,540–2,576 metres, and 3,300 metres, with estimated gas reserves ranging between 43.6 and 106 billion cubic feet.
Additionally, oil deposits have been identified at depths of 1,397–1,445 metres. During initial test production, 70 barrels of oil were extracted within two hours.
Consulting firm Schlumberger estimates recoverable reserves at approximately 14.8 million barrels (around 1.5 crore barrels).
Daily production of 600 barrels could sustain output for up to a decade.
Another exploratory well is currently being planned at the site.
Gas Supply Decline and LNG Dependency
The commissioning of Sylhet-10 comes as domestic gas production continues its downward trajectory.
In January alone, production dropped by 19 MMCF—from 1,929 MMCF on 1 January to 1,911 MMCF by 30 January.
In comparison, on 1 November, production stood at 1,968 MMCF.
At its peak, Bangladesh’s gas fields produced 2,800 MMCF per day.
However, the gap between demand and supply has widened significantly, prompting the previous Awami League government to resort to costly LNG imports.
To mitigate the shortfall, Petrobangla has proposed a 152% gas price hike for new industries, which is currently under review by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission.
Petrobangla estimates that the country’s approved gas load stands at 5,356 MMCF per day across eight consumer categories, while demand fluctuates between 3,800 and 4,000 MMCF.
However, only 2,800 MMCF is being supplied daily, leaving a deficit of approximately 1,200 MMCF.
In reality, the average supply in the 2023–24 fiscal year has been just 2,493 MMCF.
Gas Exploration Stagnation and Future Prospects
Bangladesh has drilled only 99 exploratory wells over the past 113 years, leading to the discovery of 29 gas fields.
Some, like Mobarakpur and Kasba, have shown gas traces but were not declared commercially viable.
Experts attribute the ongoing gas crisis to a lack of exploration efforts.
While Bangladesh drills one well per 5,000 square kilometres, the US and India drill one per 14 and 18.6 square kilometres, respectively.
Industry specialists argue that the stagnation in exploration is the primary reason for the nation’s gas shortfall, urging renewed investment in the sector.
The launch of Sylhet-10 may offer temporary relief, but without sustained efforts to explore and develop new fields, Bangladesh’s energy crisis is likely to persist.
