A major deep gas exploration initiative has begun in Brahmanbaria as the state-run Bangladesh Gas Field Company Limited (BGFCL) started drilling a high-depth well aimed at boosting the country’s natural gas supply.
The ongoing operation targets a depth of around 18,000 feet (5,600 metres) beneath the surface, marking one of the deepest drilling attempts in Bangladesh’s energy exploration history.
BGFCL Managing Director Engineer Abdul Jalil Pramanik said the project aims to reach potential gas-bearing formations located deep underground, near source rock zones where significant reserves may exist.
He said a modern drilling rig with 2,682 horsepower has been deployed at the Borail formation area, where preliminary geological studies suggest the possibility of untapped gas deposits. According to him, Bangladesh has so far drilled wells up to a maximum depth of about 4,900 metres, and this project is designed to exceed that benchmark.
The deep drilling work is being carried out at the Titas-31 well site in Brahmanbaria, where operations began on 19 April. So far, around 22 per cent of the drilling has been completed, and the process is expected to take about 210 days.
Pramanik also said a second deep well will be drilled later in Bakhrabad using the same Chinese-built rig. The combined cost of both projects is estimated at Tk594 crore, with a potential resource outlook of around 2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas, though confirmation will depend on drilling results.
At present, Bangladesh’s daily gas demand stands at around 3,800 million cubic feet (mmcfd), while supply ranges between 2,600 and 2,700 mmcfd. The shortfall is partly met through imports of about 1,000 mmcfd of LNG.
Officials noted that the drilling is technically complex due to high-pressure zones expected below 3,750 metres. A blowout preventer rated at 15,000 PSI is being used to ensure safety, surpassing earlier limits of 10,000 PSI.
The work is being conducted by China’s CCDC, which has prior experience in ultra-deep drilling operations exceeding 10,000 metres.
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