The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved two gas well drilling projects aimed at meeting the country’s growing energy demand.
If successful, the Dupitila-1 and Kailashtila-9 wells are expected to produce a total of 56 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas over the next decade.
The Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources has undertaken a project titled 'Dupitila-1 and Kailashtila-9 Wells (Exploration Wells) Drilling' with a budget of Tk 646 crore. The project will be implemented by Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL) and a Petrobangla-affiliated company between October 2024 and June 2026.
Key outcomes of the ECNEC meeting
A total of 10 projects, including the two gas exploration projects, were approved during the ECNEC meeting held on Wednesday at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, approved projects with a combined cost of Tk 4,246.90 crore.
The funding breakdown for the projects includes: Tk 3,632 crore from government funds,
Tk 205.79 crore from project loans, and Tk 408.92 crore from the implementing agencies' own funds.
Planning Adviser Dr Wahid Uddin Mahmud presented a summary of the projects after the meeting.
Expected gas production
If gas is found, the Dupitila-1 and Kailashtila-9 wells could produce up to 20 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) for the first five years and 12 mmcfd for the subsequent five years, contributing a total of 56 BCF over a decade.
Project Details
The project includes:
Drilling of two exploration wells—Dupitila-1 and Kailashtila-9
Hiring of foreign consulting services
Construction of a 14-kilometer gas gathering pipeline
Background
Currently, Sylhet Gas Fields Limited produces about 109 mmcfd of gas from 14 wells across the Sylhet, Kailashtila, Beanibazar, and Rashidpur gas fields.
Dupitila-1 Well:
Based on the 2017 Interpretation Report on Dupitila Prospect by BAPEX, three exploration wells were proposed for the Bhulitila structure. Among these, a Sylhet Gas Fields Limited committee recommended drilling the Dupitila-1 (Proposed-3) well.
Kailashtila-9 Well:
A 2018 3D seismic survey by foreign firm Escalberger Seiko Inch identified four prospects in the Kailashtila structure (SLB-1, SLB-2, SLB-3, and SLB-4). A committee formed by Petrobangla recommended drilling the SLB-4 prospect as the Kailashtila-9 exploratory well.
These two wells—Dupitila-1 and Kailashtila-9—have been prioritised under this project based on technical evaluations and recommendations.