Chevron inks deals to drill more wells at expanded Bibiyana gas field

Chevron Bangladesh has signed several agreements with the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and also with state-owned Petrobangla to drill more wells at the expanded Bibiyana gas field.

The deals are Supplemental Agreement to the Block 12 Production Sharing Contract for Bibiyana Flank Area Extension, amendment of Jalalabad Gas and Condensate Purchase and Sales Agreement and Amendment of Moulvibazar Condensate Purchase and Sales Agreement for Block 13 and 14.

Energy and Mineral Resources Division Deputy Secretary Morsheda Ferdous, Petrobangla Secretary (Senior General Manager) Ruchira Islam, and Chevron, Bangladesh President Eric M Walker signed the agreements at a city hotel Sunday.

Petrobangla Chairman Nazmul Ahsan said the main objective of Chevron's Bibiyana Flank Area Extension is to drill new wells there.

So far, Chevron has dug 26 wells at the Bibiyana gas field. It will begin drilling the BY-27 development well in 2023 in the extended area.

The multinational energy corporation also plans to drill the BY-28 infield well later, Nazmul said, adding that a significant amount of gas is expected to flow from the field.

Chevron is now producing around 1481.3 million cubic feet of gas per day from three gas fields – Bibiyana, Jalalabad and Moulvibazar – about 60 percent of the country's total gas production. It has also been producing more than 80 percent of the total condensate production.

Earlier, the government approved Chevron's proposal to allow it to add a 60-square-kilometre "flank" area outside its existing contract zone in the north of the Bibiyana gas field.

The approval came last month when the US oil giant celebrated its 25 years of operations in Bangladesh.

The newly extended area will be drilled under the same production sharing contract now applicable for the three gas fields, said the Energy and Mineral Resources Division officials.