The state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) will drill 29 wells in onshore blocks in the next five years, an official said.

The Petrobangla recently informed this to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

Of the 29 wells, Bapex will drill seven exploratory wells, 14 development wells and eight work-over wells during the period between 2014 and 2018, Petrobangla said.

The Bapex will also conduct 1800 kilometres 2D seismic survey, 1950 square kilometers 3D seismic survey and 900 kilometers geographical survey in five years.

The Bapex wants to keep all the onshore blocks of the country in its hands for exploring gas and oil, a top official said.

“We will keep the country’s all onshore blocks in our hands except a remote portion of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and North Bengal,” Bapex Managing Director M Abdul Baki told daily sun last week.

He said the Bapex wants to keep all onshore blocks across the country including some of CHT blocks like Patiya, Jaldi, Sitapahar and Kasalang under its supervision for gas and oil exploration.

The Bapex has prepared it’s roadmap as per the directive of the EMRD, he said adding they are not interested to explore wells at onshore blocks no-22A and 22B under CHT and blocks no-1, 2A, 2B and 3A in North Bengal.

It means the government will explore oil and gas through international oil companies in onshore blocks no-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 22A and 22B, the source added.

International Oil Companies (IOCs) have already requested State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid to allow them conduct exploration on onshore blocks so that they can produce oil and gas in shortest possible time to ease the country’s growing energy crisis.

The EMRD will hold a meeting on June 28 on Bangladesh onshore and offshore blocks with state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid in the chair, sources informed.

The government has a target to increase gas generation by 595mmcfd from the country’s onshore blocks in the next five years.

Of the target, 295mmcfd of gas would come from the blocks under local companies and another 300mmcfd from that of an international oil company.

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