Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) started drilling a new appraisal-cum development well at Titas Gas field on August 31.

Titas Gas Field’s operator Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) engaged Bapex under an agreement in order to enhance its gas production capacity.

BGFCL has undertaken a programme to drill two new wells at the field. Of them, the drilling of Well No-17- started August 31 and it will take two months to be completed.

Both the Bapex and BGFCL are the subsidiaries of the state-owned principal hydrocarbon exploration and production corporation Petrobangla.

But both the companies entered into the deal in compliance with the government's decision taken in 2005.

BGSCL's drilling programme was approved by the government in June 2007. The company has estimated a cost of Tk 3.0 billion for the drilling works at the Titas Gas Field.

As per contract, Bapex will provide Drilling Operation Services through its Commissioning & Testing Rig IDECO. For directional drilling engineering services, BGFCL signed contract with a foreign successful bidder.

Earlier, Bapex conducted 3D survey at the Titas gas field and found indication of good results. But until a successful drilling, it will be unwise to make a prediction, said a Bapex official.

Bapex expects that a production of 25-30 million cubic feet gas from the new well if the drilling is successful. Bapex planned to hit a gas zone to a depth of 3100 metre in the field's structure.

BGFCL presently operates six gas fields across the country including Titas, Habiganj, Bakhrabad, Narsingdi, Meghna and Kamta. Of them, Titas Field is the country's largest gas field with daily total gas production of 450 million cubic feet from 15 wells.

Titas gas field is located in Brahmanbaria district, some 100 Km away to the direction of northern-east from capital city Dhaka, was discovered by Pakistan Shell Oil Company in 1962.

Bapex starts drilling at well No-17 of Titas field 01 September 2012