Test drilling discovers gas reserves in Jamalpur

Exact volume is yet to be confirmed, says project director

Preliminary testing has detected traces of natural gas following the completion of a test drilling operation in Tartapara village of Jamalpur’s Madarganj Upazila.

Director of the Jamalpur-1 Exploration Well Drilling Project Mozammel Haque confirmed the development on Sunday afternoon.

According to officials involved in the project, a total depth of 2,600 metres was drilled.

Initial estimates suggest that a gas-bearing layer between 1,441 and 1,445 metres could contain around 7.2 million cubic feet of gas.

An additional gas-bearing zone is suspected in an upper layer, though further testing is required to confirm this.

Authorities said it would take approximately 72 more hours of preliminary testing to accurately assess the volume of gas reserves.

The Tk 1.68 billion exploration project was inaugurated by Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam on Jan 24.

Speaking to reporters, Project Director Mozammel Haque said: “Gas is emerging, but we cannot determine the volume at this moment. That will be known once testing is complete.”

He added that the testing process could also reveal the presence of other mineral resources in the area.