Bangladesh Begins 18,000-Foot Gas Drilling in Brahmanbaria

Bangladesh has started a deep gas exploration project in Brahmanbaria by drilling up to 18,000 feet underground, as the country continues to struggle with a persistent natural gas shortage affecting homes, industries, and power generation.

The Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) began the high-risk drilling operation on Monday at the Titas-31 well, aiming to tap potential reserves from deep underground geological layers.

Officials said this is the deepest gas exploration attempt in the country’s history, surpassing the previous maximum drilling depth of about 4,900 metres.

BGFCL Managing Director Engineer Abdul Jalil Pramanik said the target depth is 5,600 metres (18,372 feet).

“We are moving closer to the source rock where significant gas potential may exist. This is a crucial step to increase domestic supply,” he said during a visit to the site.

A 2,682-horsepower modern drilling rig, supported by China’s state-owned CCDC, is being used for the project. Officials said such high-capacity equipment has not been used in Bangladesh before.

The initiative comes amid a widening gas deficit. Current national demand is around 3,800 million cubic feet per day, while supply stands at 2,600–2,700 mmcfd. The gap is partly covered by expensive LNG imports of about 1,000 mmcfd.

Authorities said drilling at Titas-31 will take around 210 days, with nearly 22 percent already completed. A second deep well in Bakhrabad is also planned, expected to take around 180 days. The combined investment for both projects is estimated at Tk 594 crore.

Officials believe the two wells could potentially yield up to 2 trillion cubic feet of gas, though actual reserves will only be confirmed after full drilling and testing.

According to project data, multiple gas-bearing layers exist between 3,736 and 5,344 metres. Engineers expect high-pressure zones beyond 3,750 metres, requiring advanced safety systems.

A 15,000 PSI blowout preventer is being used to manage drilling risks, significantly higher than earlier safety standards. Strict safety protocols have been introduced to prevent any uncontrolled pressure incidents.

Experts say successful exploration could provide much-needed relief to the country’s energy crisis, but they caution that the final outcome remains uncertain until full geological analysis is completed.