Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed today expressed optimism that expanded exploration efforts would yield positive results in discovering gas in the country.

“We need more exploration work to discover natural gas. I hope these efforts will bring positive yield,” he said while inaugurating a workshop titled ‘Gas Well Exploration and Drill Stem Test’ at the BERC conference room here.

The chairman said investment in gas exploration over the last 30 to 40 years had not been satisfactory, adding that more extensive exploration was needed, including well drilling and seismic surveys, to locate gas reserves.

He said the government has engaged experts to conduct exploration work at five gas wells in the Sylhet region—three in Sylhet, one at Rashidpur and another at Srikail.

BERC Member Mizanur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the workshop, highlighting seismic survey dimensions and technical aspects of gas well exploration.

He explained the exploration process in detail, covering petroleum exploration methods, geological surveys, logging, well drilling, drill stem testing (DST), reserve estimation techniques and other major challenges associated with exploration work.

Responding to a question about oil reserves in Bangladesh, Mizanur said experts had found indications of oil presence in different underground layers. He noted that oil had been obtained from some wells in the Sylhet gas field, while oil was also found at the Haripur-7 well after drilling to a depth of 2,200 metres.

“We will find oil in our country,” he expressed optimism.

Mizanur also said Bangladesh has been extracting condensate, which is used to produce octane and petrol.

Members of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) joined the workshop. FERB Chairman Shamim Jahangir and Executive Director Serajul Islam highlighted various issues related to exploration activities.

Among others, BERC Members Dr Syeda Sultana Razia and retired Brigadier General Md Shahid Sarwar, and Secretary Md Nazrul Islam Sarkar attended the programme.