'Fire of Possibility' has been burning for five days in Ukhiya
- Fire erupts from gas released during tubewell drilling
- Fire remains uncontrolled even on the fifth day
- Disagreement over claims of a new ‘gas field’
Petrobangla has decided to keep the fire, caused by gas emerging from underground during the drilling of a tubewell in Inani, burning for 15 days. Photo: Agamir Somoy
The fire from natural gas that emerged from underground while drilling a tube well in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, has been burning for the fifth day.
As time passes, discussion around this fire keeps spreading. Social media and various news reports have referred to the incident as the "discovery" of the country's 31st gas field. Neither Petrobangla nor Bapex is denying the possibility. However, these government agencies say there is no scope to call the site a gas field right now.
On October 27, drilling was carried out to a depth of about one thousand feet to install a tube well in the courtyard of a house belonging to one Mohammad Abdullah in the Chhota Inani area of Jaliyapalong Union in Ukhiya. After no water was found, when the pipe and drilling equipment were removed, gas and water began coming out from there. At one stage, the gas caught fire. The fire has been burning since then.
In this incident, Petrobangla and Bapex have decided to take 15 days to observe the situation. Announcing the decision to keep the fire burning for now, the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Corporation (Petrobangla) said the fire cannot be extinguished or the gas flow stopped until the natural flow of gas decreases. Otherwise, gas accumulating underground could create high pressure and increase the risk of an explosion.
On the other hand, officials of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) say there is no basis for claims made through social media and various outlets that this is a new gas field. Without research and subsequent surveys, it is not possible to give confirmed information right now.
However, as part of security measures, it has been recommended to mark an area with a 50-meter radius from the gas emission point as the most risky red zone. Entry and presence of the general public there will be completely prohibited. In the area up to 100 meters beyond that, all activities that could create fire or sparks—including smoking and the use of matches or lighters—will be prohibited.
In addition, in a 200-meter radius observation zone, under the supervision of Bapex's technical team, regular monitoring must be carried out to see whether gas is emitting anywhere new. Instructions have also been given to maintain round-the-clock surveillance over electrical lines within the no-fire zone. It has also been said that members of law enforcement agencies will be increased at the site to tackle the situation and necessary cooperation will be given to the local administration and expert teams.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Panna Akter said security measures have been taken considering the situation as per the instructions of Petrobangla and experts. The gas flow will be observed for the next 15 days. Based on the observation during this period, the next course of action will be determined.S M Nafifun Arham, Bapex's manager (geology) and head of the geological survey team, told multiple media outlets yesterday that the possibility of a large gas reservoir within one thousand feet in a hilly area cannot be entirely ruled out. However, there are not many precedents of such large discoveries in the country.He said it will be understood after observation and survey whether this incident could be connected to a large gas reservoir at depth.Petrobangla's Director (Operations and Mines) Engineer Md. Shoaib said technology is used in various parts of the world to drill relief wells by bypassing underground gas or "side-tracking" to stop such uncontrolled gas emissions. If the height of the fire increases or remains the same, we will consider drilling a relief well.However, he said the situation could be different if the gas flow decreases or stops naturally. Engineer Shoaib also said that after initial observation, Bapex is planning to conduct a 3D seismic survey there. Through this survey, information about the underground structure will be collected and analyzed. If there is any potential gas reservoir there, an idea can be gained about its location and whether it is economically extractable.
