The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Local gas reservoir experts has rejected Chevron's claim of gas reserve figure initially and asked the International Oil Company (IOC) to submit more evidential documents to prove its claims.

The local experts also asked the IOC not to extract more then 600 mmcfd gas instead of present extraction of 700 to 900 mmcfd from this field for its longevity of the country's second largest gas reserve. .

"I heard that the IOC's claim is not acceptable to our experts, we will inform it to the government and than decide about the issue," Dr Hossain Moonsur, Petrpobangla Chairman said today.

In recent times Chevron submitted a report to the Petrobangla, the State run oil and gas company that the gas reserve at Bibiana field has increased by more than four trillion cubic feet (tcf).

Chevron told the government recently that its survey has found a total of 6.6 tcf gas reserve at the Bibiana field in Habiganj district, up from its initial projection of 2.54 tcf.

"We worked on the report submitted by the Chevron for last two months, as per our calculation they calculates both the gas developed and undeveloped gas reserve, which is not expectable," a top official of Petrobnagla told BSS correspondent Shahnaj Begum today.

World reputed Independent Ryder and Scott reservoir assessors has certified a significant increase of Gas reserve of US energy Giant Chevron operated Bibiana Gas field the second largest gas field in Bangladesh.

Chevron is the major gas producer in Bangladesh. The company from its operation in gas fields delivers on the average 900 mmcfd gas.

"Cairn, the operator of Sangu gas field company initially estimated that the field had a reserve of more than 800 bcf, it informed Petrobangla whereas the actual gas reserve was 490 bcf in terms of calculation based on material balance. But within next couple of years it informed that it would be able to supply gas uptill 2011. And now it has only 14 bcf of gas", Professor Nurul Islam of BUET said.

Making a caution about the gas reserve data he said we should go for reserve re-estimate of all gas fields as we need actual data of our gas resources.