Technical preparations have begun to control the underground gas fire at Inani in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, with Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) planning to install a 20-inch-diameter casing at the source of the gas flow.
The plan is to channel the gas through the casing and then stop the leakage using cement and mud containing specialised chemicals.
After inspecting the site on Saturday, Petrobangla director (operations and mines) engineer Md Shoaib said the authorities had planned the next steps after observing the fire for 15 days.
“Preparations are underway to extinguish the fire. BAPEX will conduct the operation. A professor from BUET’s Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering and BAPEX drilling experts have visited the site to assess how the equipment will be installed. The date for starting the operation will be decided afterward,” he said.
BUET associate professor Dr Shahriar Mahmud said the necessary equipment and technical preparations were being made to control the fire.
“The 20-inch casing brought to the site will be inserted into the gas outlet as far as possible. This will allow the gas to flow through the pipe in a controlled manner,” he said.
The next step will involve using a circulation method to inject cement and chemically treated mud to stop the gas flow, he said.
“We are preparing everything necessary to bring the fire under control. Once the gas flow is controlled through the casing, we will temporarily stop the gas emission using cement and mud,” Shahriar said.
He said the equipment currently at the site would not be sufficient to complete the operation and that another 15 to 20 large trucks or trailers would be needed to bring additional equipment.
Unloading and installing equipment began on Saturday, he said. The main operation will begin once preparations are complete.
Asked how long the operation could take, Shahriar said the fire might be brought under control within 30 minutes after the main operation begins if it is successful. However, the outcome would depend on the operation itself.
Gas reserve and commercial potential remain uncertain
A separate exploration will be conducted after the fire is brought under control to assess the gas reserve and its commercial potential, Shahriar said.
“Gas is present here, but we cannot yet determine how much gas can actually be recovered, whether production will be possible or whether it will be commercially viable,” he said.
After the gas flow is stopped, geological and reservoir experts will conduct further assessments, including seismic surveys. If recoverable reserves are identified, he said, a new well could be drilled in the future.
BAPEX drilling superintendent Md Anisur Rahman said the six-inch opening through which gas is currently escaping is not a production well.
“More equipment and exploration will be required to determine whether production is possible. At this stage, it is not possible to say how much gas is available or how much can be produced. Ensuring public safety must come first,” he said.
Asked about reports of new gas leaks at different points around the site, Anisur said the situation would become clearer once operations begin.
Fire has been burning since October 27
The fire started on October 27 when gas began escaping from underground while a tube well was being drilled to a depth of around 1,000 feet at a house in Chhoto Inani under Jaliapalong union of Ukhiya. The gas subsequently caught fire and has continued to burn.
Initially, BAPEX and Petrobangla experts advised against trying to extinguish the fire because of the gas’s high pressure. They feared that forcibly stopping the flow could create underground pressure and increase the risk of an explosion in surrounding areas.
In the interest of public safety, the upazila administration imposed Section 144 around the site and restricted access by installing fencing. The safety measures remain in place as preparations continue to control the fire.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
