Fuel gas has been found in three levels of Begumganj-4 (West) well dug in Ambarnagar Union of Sonaimuri Upazila of Noakhali. Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) expects to add one crore (10 million) cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid.General Manager of Geophysical Department of Bapex, Howladar Ohidul Islam, confirmed the matter on Monday (August 12) night.

According to Bapex, existence of gas was found in Begumganj-4 (West) well dug in Washekpur village. DST test after drilling which started on April 29, 2024 is now underway with the lowest level production test. Initially the well has sufficient gas in three layers. After this test, the total amount of gas stored here will be known. Howladar Ohidul Islam said, “I think we can get more gas than our target. So far, out of the target four zones, it is expected that gas can be extracted commercially from three zones. “Shamsia Muktadir, General Manager of the geological department of BAPEX said, “BAPEX has been working for a long time in the search for natural gas.

Excavation work in Begumganj-4 (West) well started on April 29 this year. As the overall situation in the country is not stable, our excavation work has also been delayed a bit. At the end of the day, we were able to succeed. Project Director of Begumganj-4 (West) evaluation cum development well. Prince Al Helal said that the target was to add 10 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid. However, looking at the gas conditions in the lower zone, something better can be expected. Total gas reserves can be ascertained after production test.

Drilling in-charge Mohammad Asaduzzaman said, ‘We had to face many obstacles to dig it. After overcoming all the obstacles, we are seeing the light today. Once upon a time, foreign workers and officials were involved in the work of digging gas wells. But now that has changed. About two hundred officials and employees involved in digging this well are all from Bangladesh. This is also a great joy for us.’

Before this, Begumganj-1 gas wells were drilled in 1976 and Begumganj-2 gas wells in 1978 but it was not possible to extract gas from them. The Begumganj-3 well was drilled in 2014 and is still supplying 8 million cubic feet of gas per day to the Feni-Noakhali-Laxmipur regional transmission line. Bapex has plans to dig Begumganj-5 and Begumganj-6 wells here in the future.