Kailashtila new well may have over 1.6TCF gas: Nasrul

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that an additional 1.6 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas is expected to be explored from the eighth well of Kailashtila gas field in future.

"Kailashtilla gas field earlier had a reserve of 3 TCF. But drilling of the exploratory well may increase its reserve," he said after inspecting the Kailashtila-8 well excavating project in Sylhet on Saturday, reports BSS.

"It will be cost-effective if we don't need to import gas. We want every gas field official to show potential. We expect other gas fields to come forward like Sylhet gas field," Nasrul said.

Sylhet Gas Field Company Managing Director Mizanur Rahman told reporters that seven wells have already been drilled in Kailashtila and gas has been found in each well.

"Over 1 TCF Gas is expected to be found if we dig more 3,500 meters," he said.

Local MP and former education minister Nurul Islam Nahid and senior officials of Sylhet Gas Field Company, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) were present during the state minister’s visit.

Before inspecting the well, the state minister visited the head office of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited. At the same time, he inaugurated the Bangabandhu Corner and Data Centre of the Prepaid Meter Project.

During his three-day Sylhet tour, Nasrul will inspect several gas fields and process plants, and inaugurate model petrol pumps and gas pipelines.

The excavation of the 'Kailashtila-8 well' of Sylhet Gas Field Company started on January 11. The well is being drilled by BAPEX.

It is a matter of great hope that the existing pipeline remains at a distance of only one and a half kilometres and a usable process plant at a distance of two and a half kilometres.

‘Test underway to extract oil from gas well’

While visiting the Sylhet gas field well-10 area at Jaintapur, State Minister Nasrul also said that a test is underway to extract oil from Sylhet gas well-10, as the government is optimistic about commercial production of oil from the wells.

“We will get the result of the test of oil within two months. The pressure inside and the entrance of the oil mine are very good. We are optimistic because oil is being obtained from such pressure,” he said.

Considering high gas pressure, the energy and mineral resources division will dig two more wells, which will also increase the production capacity of gas, he added.

He said, “We have supplied electricity to the island (Char) through a submarine cable. Now the momentum has been transmitted to the rural economy. Fuel must be ensured to keep the economy-boosting. Sylhet Gas Field Company is doing well and they deserve an award for that.”

Mizanur said, “Well number-10 in Sylhet is very lucky, as the gas pressure is 6000 pounds per square inch (PSI) found here. During the test, the pressure was found 3200 PSI. Many wells experience pressure drop during the withdrawal, but Sylhet-10 is an exception.”

The presence of oil was known during the test on the 10th well of the Sylhet gas field on December 8. Three gas layers as well as oil have been confirmed in the well.

Oil location was identified in 1397-1445 m depth and 70 barrels of oil were lifted in two hours on the first day, he added.

Once the test is completed, the oil reserve can be confirmed. The reserve is initially estimated at 8 to 10 million barrels, but BAPEX estimates say 15 to 18 million.

“The extracted oil has been sent to three labs including BUET, Eastern Refinery for testing. Once the results are available, more details will be available. 500 to 600 barrels of oil per day are expected. Testing is going on and it will take another four to five months to be fully confirmed,” Mizanur said.

The state minister said that gas reserves can be 43.6 to 106 billion cubic feet and the average value of which is worth Tk 8,500 crores.

Sylhet Gas Field Company is currently producing 115.2 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Several projects including Kailashtila 8, Sylhet 10, Sylhet-10X, and Sylhet-11 are underway.

The company expects to be able to extract 250 to 280 million cubic feet of gas per day if the ongoing operations are completed by 2025.