Project under implementation
2D SEISMIC-GPS SURVEY
Operational Capability Strengthening (Rig procurement) Project:
With a view to enhance the operational capability of BAPEX in oil and gas exploration, procurement of a 5000(+)meter AC-AC type deep drilling rig under Operational Capability Strengthening Project was approved by ECNEC on 8 June 2003. The estimated cost of the project was Tk. 815.80 under government financing.
The procurement process faced continuous difficulty. The first invitation found the lowest bidder to be 31% higher than the estimated price. The retender resulted in a lowest offer 90% higher than the estimated cost. At that point, considering the price hike of oil, steel materials as well as increasing price of rig and rig rental, the project cost was revised to Tk. 1420 million with the revised DPP targeting completion by June 2008.
The third and fourth tender was also unsuccessful. However, a fifth tender floated in March 2008 attracted 6 bids of which 2 were evaluated as eligible. The lowest eligible bid has been ratified by the BAPEX Board. A contract agreement has been signed between BAPEX and Sichuan Honghua Petroleum Equipment Co., Ltd. on 20th of January, 2009 for supply of AC-AC Type Land Drilling Rig & Rig Accessories on turnkey basis in Bangladesh. During the execution of this agreement Sichuan Honghua Petroleum Equipment Co., Ltd will supply one set 2000 HP.AC-AC Type Land Drilling Rig & Rig Accessories on turnkey basis and will also perform one well drilling operation in selected site of BAPEX which is expected to be completed by June 2011. The RDPP of Tk. 23625.00 has been approved by ECNEC on 24 November 2008.
Kapasia Oil and Gas Exploration Well Drilling Project:
Kapasia exploration well will be drilled based on 181 line km 2D seismic data acquired by BAPEX which confirmed a low amplitude structure in Kapasia under Gazipur district. The structure is about 35 sqkm with an initial estimate of probable reward of about 660 bcf gas in place of which 428 bcf may be producible. The project taken up at a cost of about Tk. 590 million involving drilling and testing of a 3300 (+200) meter exploration well. The DPP has been approved by ECNEC and land acquisition and tender for procurements are now progressing satisfactorily.
Semutang Gas Field Development Project:
Semutang gas field development project has been taken to mitigate the gas shortage in Chittagong area. The gas field situated in the Manikchhari upazila under Khagrachhari district is estimated to hold a gas reserve of 150 bcf. The project costing an estimated Tk. 650 million envisages work over of the two existing wells to produce about 20 mmcfd gas. The project has been approved by ECNEC in 22 May 2008. Procurements of material for workover are now progressing satisfactorily.
Sundalpur Oil and Gas Exploration Drilling project:
Sundalpur area falling under block 15 encompassing the structure was allocated to BAPEX recently. BAPEX has completed 200 lkm seismic during the financial year and interpretation of the data will finalize the well location. The project involves drilling of a 3300 meter deep well under government funding. Preliminary estimate indicates a probable reward of about 500 bcf. The total cost of the project is estimated at Tk. 666 million and the project document has been approved by ECNEC in May 2008.Procurements of material for Drilling operation are now progressing satisfactorily.
Appraisal of Gas Fields (3-D Seismic):
The objective of this Asian Development Bank (ADP) funded project is to conduct 1250 Sq. Km of 3-D seismic survey over Titas and Bakhrabad gas fields of BGFCL and Sylhet, Kailashtila and Rashidpur gas fields of SGFL and to process and evaluate the acquired data. This will help precise knowledge of the gas reservoirs, pin-point the development well locations, reducing the risk of drilling dry holes, etc. The project was approved by ECNEC on 26 April 2006 to be implemented by June 2010 at a total cost of Tk. 1457.50 million. BGFCL and SGFL will be the "Executing Agency" in their respective gas fields while BAPEX will be the "Implementing Agency" for implementing the project. BAPEX is going ahead with preparation to start the survey in February 2009; this project will enable BAPEX to master a new technology by acting as the implementing agency.
Geophysical and Geological Survey in Blocks 8 and 11:
Under this umbrella programme BAPEX conducts seismic and geological survey in the blocks 8 and 11 and the ring fence areas allocated to BAPEX in order to ascertain the oil and gas prospectivity. So far the project has been funded by BAPEX out of its own resource but attempts have been made to arrange government finance.
Upgradation of Data Center of BAPEX:
The main objective of the project is to modernize the data management system of the BAPEX data centre and transcribe the old data stored in obsolete media into high density modern media. The ADB funded project expected to be completed by December 2010 and tendering for the procurements are underway.
