Govt sets its sights on oil extraction from Sylhet 

Over 95 per cent of crude oil amounting to around 30 million barrels still exists in underground reservoirs in an abandoned oil field at Haripur in Sylhet, according to the survey data.

In addition, the data has showed that there are about 90 million barrels of crude oil reserves in Kailashtila gas field in Sylhet.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has recently conducted the survey. During the survey, the second oil field of the country was discovered by state-owned Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL) in November last year.

Researchers, however, said that the Sylhet basin has many small oil fields. They also suggested that the comprehensive exploration work should be carried out in the entire region.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told The Business Post that the new construction/exploration work will start at Haripur soon.

In the 80s, he said, there was no smart technology in the Bangladesh. So, it was not possible to extract enough oil from Haripur, he said, adding that work will start in that field again using modern technology.

The research has been done to find out how much gas can be obtained through the secondary recovery in abandoned gas wells under Petrobangla.

The research was led by petroleum expert Amirul Islam, professor at Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST).

He told The Business Post, "We have conducted extensive exploration in all the gas fields under SGFL, including Haripur and Kailashtila. It shows that 95 per cent of oil reserves remain in underground pools at Haripur. Kailashtila has about 90 million barrels.”

Citing the reason for closing Haripur, he said that in the initial stage, a certain amount of crude oil comes out under soil pressure. After some times, it stops.

“But during the time for secondary recovery, pits are drilling on the sides, water is added and the pressure is increased. If that doesn't work, pump machine has to be installed to extract crude oil. These works were not done at Haripur and hence, the field was initially closed.”

The Pakistan Petroleum Limited discovered natural gas in 1955 at Haripur in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet near the border of India. In 1986, after drilling seven wells, one of them (Sylhet-7) was found to have valuable crude oil. However, the well was closed in 1994 after producing only 5 per cent of oil reserves.

International geologist Professor Badrul Imam involved with the new research said, “The Sylhet region has a great potential of oil and gas. Many studies have shown that there are many small oil fields in Sylhet.”

“In addition, oil has been found in Sylhet-9 gas well. If oil is produced in an integrated way, it will be possible to meet the country’s energy deficit to a large extent,” he added.

Sinopec will drill another well at Sylhet-10

In November last year, SGFL discovered the country's second oil field in the Sylhet-10 Gas well near Haripur. According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, it will take another 5-6 months to confirm fuel reserves and set the time to extract oil from the new field.

SGFL says that the Sylhet-10 oil and gas well was drilled by the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation-Sinopec. The company was contracted to drill the well to a depth of 3,500 metres at a cost of Tk 149 crore. However, drilling was stopped after reaching a depth of 2,600 metres.

Nasrul Hamid recently visited the Sylhet-10 oil field. He said that the remaining drilling could not be done due to the high-pressure zone after drilling 2,600 metres because there was a possibility of a blowout (an uncontrolled release of oil or gas from a well).

He said that another well will be drilled by Sinopec 14 metres away from the well to confirm the amount of oil reserves.

Initially, the Energy Division estimated that the Sylhet-10 gas well has reserves of crude oil worth Tk 8,000 crore.

SGFL Managing Director Mizanur Rahman told The Business Post that four layers of gas and one layer of oil were found in Sylhet -10. If 500 barrels of oil are extracted per day, the field will last 12 to 15 years. “But we cannot say anything yet certainly.”

Professor Badrul Imam said initially, it is thought that Sylhet-10 is a small oil field. However, there is a possibility of more oil in the surrounding area.

“In the past, the government failed to extract oil from Haripur oil field due to its negligence and technical weakness,” he said and advised the government to be cautious so that it can easily extract oil from the new field.