Introduction
Geographically, Bangladesh occupies a bigger part of the Bengal
basin and the country is roofed by Tertiary folded sedimentary rocks (12%) in
the north, northeastern and eastern parts; uplifted Pleistocene residuum (8%)
in the northwestern, mid-northern and eastern parts; and Holocene deposits
(80%) consisting of unconsolidated sand, silt, and clay. The oldest exposed rock
is the Tura Sandstone of Palaeocene age but older rocks like Mesozoic,
Paleozoic amid Precambrian basement have been encountered in the drill holes
in the northwestern part of the country. The imperative mineral deposits of
Bangladesh are natural gas, coal, limestone, hard rock, gravel, boulder, glass
sand, construction sand, white clay, brick clay, peat, and beach sand heavy
minerals because of its different biological environments. Tertiary Barailshales
stirring within the oil and gas windows have generated natural gas and oil
found in Bangladesh
Sustainable mineral
resources are still playing, a vital role in shaping the modern civilized
industrial world. Modern urbanization, industrialization, transportation, and
communication systems are the achievements of worldwide sustainable mineral
resource development and their proper utilization in various sectors. The richness in natural resources is the key indicator of socio-economic infrastructure for any
country all over the world. Strong technological know-how, its ability to explore and exploit mineral
resources, and its wisdom in utilizing those resources properly in the development
activities of the nation. The developing world is generally far behind compared
with the developed world in the sense of development activities. Bangladesh is a
small country; it has a number of mineral resources such as natural gas, oil,
coal, hard rock, limestone, white clay, glass sand, and mineral sand. At
present, natural gas is the only mineral commodity significantly contributing
to the national economy. The majority of the country’s energy needs are met by gas
that is about 90%.
Energy is the key
ingredient for socio-economic development of a country and economic development
depends on the adequate energy supply that leads a country self-reliant.
Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources divided into two departments
namely Energy and Mineral Resources Department and Power Department. Energy and
Mineral Resources Department that entrusted to make all policies connected to
natural gas, liquid petroleum, and mineral resources. MRD is responsible to
create policies and administrative control over the Geological Survey of
Bangladesh, Petrobangla, Bureau of Mineral Development and Department of
Explosives. Hydrocarbon Unit and Bangladesh petroleum Institute is controlled
and watch over by EMRD.
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| Mineral Map of Bangladesh |
Present scenario of Mineral Resource in
Bangladesh:
Natural Gas:
Natural gas has a vital role to play in our
socio-economic development as a rudimentary source of energy. Its widespread use
in power, fertilizer, industry, and household has made it the energy of choice
in Bangladesh that accounts for about 73% commercial energy of the country. It
is pretty cheaper than other conventional sources of energy that we import from
abroad. The use of indigenous natural gas has, indeed, helped to accelerate the
pace of economic development and improve the quality of our life in the country.
So far in Bangladesh 25 gas fields have been discovered with the rate of
success ratio is 3.1:1 of which two of the gas fields are located in the offshore
area. Gas is produced from 20 gas fields (79 gas wells),
15 are state-owned and the remaining operated by international oil companies. Currently, Chevron contributes more than
half of Bangladesh's total gas production.
Bangladesh gas sector started its journey in the early 60s,
but its rapid expansion and integration stared to accelerate in the 70s spurred by
the rising oil price. Total recoverable proven and probable gas reserve from
discovered 25 gas fields has been estimated as 27.04 TCF out of which estimated
proven recoverable reserve (P1) is 20.70 TCF and recoverable probable reserve
is 6.39 TCF. Up to December 2013 as much as 11.92 TCF gas has been produced
leaving only 15.12 TCF recoverable gas. Currently 19 gas fields are in
production and out of 104 wells located in 19 gas fields, 84 are in the stream. A
total of 600.86 billion cubic gas (BCF) was produced in FY 2007-2008, 653.57
BCF in 2008-2009, 703 BCF in 2009-2010, 708.92 BCF in 2010-11, 743.57 BCF in
2011-2012 and 805.67 BCF in 2012-13.
The demand for gas has already surpassed 2700 MMCF per
day whereas the peak supply of gas is nearly 2287 MMCF leaving a shortfall of 413
MMCF per day. Against this backdrop, Petrobangla has drowned time-bound program
to boost up gas production in the coming days, and with this end of view, short the term, midterm and long term (up to 2015) have been taken up for enhancing gas
production to and an additional amount of 1560 MMCFD with in the year 2015 as
envisaged in the road map. Meanwhile, a volume of about 593 MMCFD of gas added
to the natural grid.
Average daily gas production capacity is about 2000 mmcfd of which
International Oil Companies (IOC) produce 1040 mmcfd and State-Owned Companies
(SOC) produce 960 mmcfd. The gas production recorded on 24 February, 2010 was
1996.7 MMCFD. At present the daily approximate projected gas demand throughout
the country is 2500 MMCFD. The demand is increasing day by day. Energy and
Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has already undertaken an array of short,
medium, fast track and long term plans to increase gas production to overcome
prevailing gas shortage. According to this plan 188 mmcfd, 290 mmcfd, 995 mmcfd
(including 500 mmcfd LNG), 500 mmcfd and 380 mmcfd gas will be added to the
national gas grid by the year 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 respectively.
After completion of these plans production capacity is expected to increase to
about 2353 mmcfd gas by December 2015. To increase the gas production more
programs will be taken in near future. Bangladesh's natural gas output
increased only by 110 million cubic feet per day to 2.26 billion cubic feet per
day until June 2013 from 2.15 BCF per day in June 2012, Petrobangla data
indicated. Amid annual estimated demand growth of 10 percent, the country's
entire recoverable gas reserves of 16.36 trillion cubic feet are expected to
continue to 2025 and beyond, although in short supply. In a forecast of gas
supply scene from the existing gas fields, production is expected to increase
and reach its peak in 2016. As the demand for gas continues to grow, the gap
between demand and supply will continue to widen as the production begins to
decline after 2016. But if the natural gas consumption rate should exceed that
10 percent growth estimate, Bangladesh's reserves won't last more than a decade.
The government's decision for overproduction raises questions since it came without measuring the capability for overproduction of a gas field. In 2009, when the Awami League came to power, the country's gas supplies hovered around 1850-1900 mmcfd, a few hundred mmcfd short of the demand. Over the next five years, the supplies increased up to 2,250 mmcfd due to increased production by the national gas companies. Chevron alone provided 250 mmcfd. And now it is investing half a billion dollars to increase Bibiyana Gas Field's production by 300 mmcfd by early next year to address the country's gas crisis. Experts believe that this might cause Bibiyana to collapse just as Sangu did in the past. Besides overproduction, the lack of proper management and surveillance also poses some problems.
How Natural Gas Sector Evolved:
The search of oil and gas in the area constituting
Bangladesh began in the later part of the 19th century through some isolated
geological mapping. The first serious attempt to find oil and gas was
undertaken in Sitakund in 1908 by the Indian Petroleum Prospecting Company.
During 1923-31 Burmah Oil Company (BOC) drilled two shallow wells in Patharia.
The wells were abandoned though there was a reported occurrence of oil. A total
of 6 exploratory wells were drilled, the deepest being 1047 meters. There was however
no discovery and the Second World War disrupted further activity.
Gas
exploration activities started in this region in the 50s when some
multinational companies we active after oil find in Assam following world war
two. Pakistan Petroleum Ltd discovered gas at Chiknagul,Haripoor Sylhet.
Unfortunately Sylhet 1 was a blow out .There is a crater and a pond around
burial of thedrill rig where gas is still bubbling out for almost 60 years.
Sylhet 2 was a relief well drilled to contain blowout .Sylhet 3 was the first
producer. Around same time gas was also discovered in Chatak. Around sametime
Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation planed to set up Natural Gas
Fertilizer Factory at Fenchuganj and Cement Factory at Chatak. Gas of Sylhet
gas field and Chattak were utilized for these setting up treatment plants and
constructing gas transmission pipelines. That was PPL which after independence
became BPL and now Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd. That was the beginning of gas era in
this part of the world. During Pakistan days Anglo Dutch oil Giant Shell
discovered Titas, Habiganj, Rashidpoor, Bakhrabad, Feni and Kaillashtilla. But
other than Titas and Habiganj none of the other gas fields were developed.
Brambanria Demra gas transmission pipeline was built by French Company GTM for
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company a company registered under
company act under EPIDC. The market was very limited Shidhirganj Power plant
and some domestic and commercial customers.
Petroleum Product:
Bangladesh imports annually about 1.3 million metric
Tons of crude oil. Besides these, another 2.7 million metric Tons (approx) of
refined petroleum products per annum is imported. Condensate is mixed with
crude oil. Major consumer of liquid fuel is transport sector followed by
agriculture, industry and commercial sector which is mostly met by imported
liquid fuel. Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), a subsidiary company of Bangladesh
Petroleum Corporation (BPC), is capable of processing 1.3 million metric Tons
of crude oil per year.
Compressed
Natural Gas:
CNG vehicles were introduced in 1997 to reduce the
dependency on imported fuel, environment pollution and to save foreign
currency. Number of CNG refueling Station is 587 and 180 conversion workshops
have already been set-up in the country. Total number of CNG converted vehicles
is 172683 except theses 53579 CNG vehicles was imported. Total number of CNG
vehicles is 213059 as of 2011-12 fiscal years. The proportion
of buses and minibuses running on CNG was above 75%.
Liquefied
Petroleum Gas:
LPG can be used in remote areas where access to gas
pipeline is difficult and expensive but there is a demand of gas. To lessen the
dependency on imported oil and thus to save foreign currency, the use of LPG
has to be popularized. Currently the supply of LPG of the country is 95,500
Metric Ton of which production in Public Sector is 22,500 Metric Ton while
Production in Private Sector is 73,000 Metric Ton. The Possible demand of LPG
in the country is 2,00,000 M. Ton. Government has reduced tax rate on some
appliances to popularize the use of LPG.
Continues………… …
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