Dhaka, April 26 (BDNEWS) - After successfully drilling two wells in the Titas gas field, BAPEX is going to drill more four wells in the Koilashtila gas field.
Despite BAPEX successfully drilled the wells, it has to do the assignment with only one-third price of the present market cost.
Investigation shows that Energy Division asked BAPEX to drill two wells of the Titas instead of appointing contractor by tender for the first time ever and an agreement was signed between Bangladesh Gas Fields Limited (BGFCL) and the Bangladesh petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX).
Despite the market price for drilling a well is US $ 5 million each (Tk 35 crore), BAPEX was given only Tk 25 crore for drilling two wells. Just a few year back, BGFCL drilled a well by an Indian company according to the international market price.
BAPEX started drilling of Titas 16 on August 3, 2005 and ended November 3. This is the deepest deviation drilling at 3,558 metres depth. This well is producing 25 to 26 million cubic feet of gas (mmcfd) each day.
The drilling for Titas 15 well started on February 3 this year and ended on April 6 at 3,184 metres depth. This is now waiting for production procedures.
Earlier, BAPEX successfully drilled the Srikail exploration and Fenchuganj development wells while it has also conducted workover of the Shahbazpur exploration well.
With continuation of the successes, BAPEX has agreed at a cost of Tk 37 crores for drilling two development wells of Koilashtila field of the Sylhet GAs Fields Limited and two workovers.
It started the drilling of Koilashtila 5 and workover of Koilashtila 3 on April 16. Next, it will conduct the drilling of Koilashtila 6 and workover of Koilashtila 4.
It has been using two rigs and it is expected that the work would complete by the end of this year.
Expert of the gas sector said awarding the assignments to BAPEX is no doubt an appreciating initiative, but it must be rewarded with price at an international standard so that the institution can save foreign exchange and increase its skills as well.
When his attention was drawn, BAPEX managing director told BDNEWS that they are getting less amount of money than the market price. "However, BAPEX is drilling for other companies and it is a good initiative. Hopefully, we will get proper price in the future," he said.
BDNEWS/1557 hrs
