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The government has set a target to drill 150 wells by 2031 to boost gas production, followed by another 150 wells between 2031 and 2035 to further increase domestic output.
Over the past seven months since the BNP government assumed office, drilling of 32 wells has been completed, adding around 148 million cubic feet (mmcfd) of gas a day to the national grid.
Stakeholders said implementation of the plans would not only boost domestic gas production but also reduce pressure from the country’s dependence on imported gas.
According to Petrobangla, the 32 wells completed so far include 14 drilled by Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL), 11 by Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) and seven by Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL).
Petrobangla sources said the completed wells had a combined projected production capacity of 134.4 mmcfd.
However, higher-than-expected production from the Habiganj-5 well has raised the current output from the 32 wells to about 147.9 mmcfd, which is being supplied to the national grid.
Petrobangla’s Reservoir and Data Management Division said the full production potential of the newly drilled wells had yet to be utilised.
An additional 60 mmcfd of gas from the completed wells was expected to be added to the national grid, but the supply has been delayed due to pipeline-related complications.
As a result, ensuring adequate transmission infrastructure alongside increased gas production has become crucial, officials said.
Meanwhile, drilling operations for another seven wells are underway as part of the 150-well programme.
