Shariatpur Correspondent: Natural gas reserves were not found despite digging a well at a cost of Tk 120 crore in Shariatpur’s Naria. Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) said that no sign of gas was found even after digging more than 100 feet from the specified depth.
According to Petrobangla and Bapex, a two-dimensional seismic survey (today’s seismic survey) was conducted in a large area from Kuchaipati in Gosairhat upazila of Shariatpur to Khulna in the financial year 2014–15. In that survey, after finding the presence of gas underground in Dinara village of Chamta union of Naria upazila, the well drilling work started in November 2022. The mining project lasted until June 2023. 6.49 acres of land were taken possession of through the district administration for excavation. Compensation for two years of crops on that land is also given.
However, before the expiration of the period, the gas well drilling work was completed. Even after testing the soil and various materials there, no gas was found. Therefore, all officials and employees of Shariatpur Oil-Gas Exploration Well Drilling Project-1 are taking all types of digging equipment from this station.
On the ground, it has been seen that the excavation work is no more. Many officials and employees are leaving with most of the equipment. Everyone is rushing to dig another gas well in Noakhali. The news of not getting gas has caused anger among the locals.
Bapex Director General and Administrator of Shariatpur Oil-Gas Exploration Well Drilling Project-1 Noor Islam said, I do not know much about this matter. Despite digging 3,300 feet deep and blasting, no trace of gas was found. So now I will go to the Noakhali well drilling station.
Project Director (PD), Md. Tofail Uddin Sikdar, said that no gas reserves were found here despite the search. There is no place to supply gas here. Therefore, the mining machines here are being taken to the Noakhali Sundarpur-3 project.
Bapex Project Director (PD) Tofail Ahmed said there is no gas reserve here. But will revisit. Then something can be said about this.
