In a significant development, the Ilisha-1 gas field in Bhola district has been officially declared as the 29th gas field of Bangladesh.
The State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid, made the announcement during a press briefing held at his residence in Dhaka on May 22, 2023. This newly discovered gas field is anticipated to hold an estimated reserve of 200 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas, contributing to the overall reserve of 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) in the Bhola region.
Expressing enthusiasm over the discovery, Minister Nasrul Hamid described it as excellent news for the nation. Located approximately 182 kilometers away from the capital city Dhaka, the Ilisha-1 gas field was excavated in the Maler Hat area of the Ilisha union under Bhola Sadar upazila. The drilling process, which commenced on March 8, concluded successfully on April 24 after reaching a depth of 3,475 meters through the Drill Stem Test conducted in three levels.
Minister Nasrul Hamid disclosed that gas had been previously found in various wells within the Bhola north and Bhola south structures. As part of a strategic plan, efforts are underway to construct a pipeline that would transport gas from the Bhola area to Dhaka, addressing the persistent gas shortages faced by numerous industries. Currently, a pre-feasibility study has been conducted, with a comprehensive feasibility study in progress. The Minister estimated that it would take approximately three years to complete the pipeline project.
To initiate the gas supply, a private company has already signed a contract to transport 25 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas from Bhola using large trailers, starting with an initial volume of 5 mmcfd. Additionally, the government aims to establish a pipeline network encompassing Bhola, Barishal, and Dhaka, as well as another network connecting districts in Dhaka, Sylhet, and other regions.
The commercial value of the gas reserves in Bhola is estimated at Tk 6500 crore in the local market and Tk 26000 crore when considering the value of imported gas. Minister Nasrul Hamid highlighted that the declaration of the Ilisha-1 gas field’s discovery followed meticulous drilling operations and related activities.
Presently, Bangladesh produces around 2300 mmcfd of gas from 22 existing gas fields, while an additional 700 mmcfd is imported to meet the demand of approximately 4000 mmcfd, leaving a deficit of approximately 1000 mmcfd. Despite this, two gas fields in Bhola possess a combined production capacity of around 200 mmcf, with the actual production ranging between 80-85 mmcf. Consequently, there remains an unused surplus capacity of approximately 120 mmcf across eight wells in the Shahbazpur and Bhola gas fields.
Due to the absence of adequate pipeline and transmission facilities, the surplus gas from the Bhola field has not been able to be supplied to energy-intensive industrial zones in Dhaka and other areas. The discovery of the Ilisha-1 gas field signifies a crucial step towards addressing the energy needs of the country and bolstering its industrial sector, heralding a promising future for Bangladesh’s energy landscape.
