Abstract

Bibiyana and Moulavi Bazar gas fields are located within the prolific gas province of the Surma Basin. Both fields are operated by Unocal Bangladesh companies under their respective Production Sharing Contracts with Petrobangla. A Gas Purchase and Sales Agreement (GPSA) was signed in October 2003 for the Moulavi Bazar development. Recently, Petrobangla has requested that Unocal develop the Bibiyana Field as an additional supply source to meet the natural gas demand in Bangladesh. Petrobangla has approved a development plan for the field.

The Bibiyana Field was discovered by the Bibiyana well #1, drilled in 1998 within Block 12. Bibiyana was the first field in Bangladesh to be covered by a 3D survey and to make use of high resolution imaging tools for the identification of thin-bedded reservoirs. The combined test rates of the six DST's in the Bibiyana well # 1 exceeded 170 MMscfd. The combinations of the discovery well, the Bibiyana well #2 appraisal, and the 3D survey, substantiate the significant reserves potential of the Bibiyana field. The field has independently been assessed by the consulting group DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D & M) that certified 2.2 Tcf as proven plus probable reserves.

The Moulavi Bazar Field, located in Block 14, was discovered by the Moulavi Bazar-2 well in 1999 that was immediately followed by the Moulavi Bazar-3 appraisal well. Drill stem tests flowed gas at rates of up to 72MMscfd from a single zone. An integrated evaluation of 2-D seismic data with the two wells established Moulavi Bazar Field as a significant accumulation with proven plus probable reserves of over 350 Bcf.

Bangladesh's current daily average gas consumption is about 1,300 MMCFD and Petrobangla projects that the demand will grow about 10% per year. The country's current supply capacity of just over 1,350 MMCFD is insufficient to meet the projected growth in demand. Through the development of the Moulavi Bazar and Bibiyana Fields, Unocal, in concert with Petrobangla, will be able to meet Bangladesh's future energy demand.

Presented at: 2005 South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) Conference, Singapore, 2005