Petrobangla expects flames to continue for a few more days as experts monitor gas flow
A fire fuelled by natural gas escaping from an abandoned deep tube-well in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, has been burning for 13 days, and Petrobangla expects it to continue for a few more days.
Experts hope gas emissions and flame intensity will gradually decline during this period. If the flow does not subside within the expected time, an expert team will consider firefighting measures and other alternatives.
Meanwhile, the upazila administration has continued to enforce Section 144, prohibiting people from entering or staying within 200 metres of the site over fears of a possible accident.
Gas was still escaping from the site until Saturday noon, when this report was filed.
A Bapex team visited the site on November 1. Earlier, on Friday, Petrobangla director (operations and mines) engineer Md Shoaeb and other officials also inspected the area.
Nasir Uddin, manager of the geological department at Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company, or Bapex, said during a visit that Bapex and Petrobangla were not taking any immediate steps to extinguish the fire.
‘We are still monitoring the gas situation. Our preliminary assessment is that this is formation gas. Water was found at the site on Sunday. The presence of water may gradually stop the gas flow, but further monitoring is needed to confirm this,’ he said.
He said the gas had been detected at a depth of about 300 metres underground, making it difficult to control the flow.
‘Controlling gas flow at depths of 2,000 to 4,000 metres is generally easier. In this case, the shallow depth is creating complications,’ he added.
Nasir said a committee formed by Petrobangla and Bapex would monitor the gas situation for the next 15 days. Further steps would be taken based on the monitoring results and the committee’s recommendations.
In a press release signed by Petrobangla deputy general manager (public relations) Tarikul Islam Khan on November 1, the state-owned company said gas had started escaping and caught fire on October 27 while a deep tube-well was being drilled near the Chhoto Inani Bridge in Jaliapalong union of Ukhiya.
The incident occurred after drilling reached a depth of about 1,000 feet. Bapex immediately sent two geologists to the site, who have been staying in Cox’s Bazar to monitor the situation.
Petrobangla director Md Shoaeb said preliminary observations suggested that the fire was coming from a shallow gas deposit or reservoir.
He said the black colour of the flames also raised the possibility that oil or condensate was escaping along with the gas.
However, further monitoring would be required to determine the gas’s actual composition, source and volume.
He said that if the flames remained unchanged or intensified after 15 days of monitoring, they could drill a relief well using sidetracking technology.
If the gas flow declined or stopped within that period, the authorities would decide on further action based on the situation.
By Tarekur Rahman
Photo: Tarekur Rahman
