Natural gas has been found during preliminary testing at the Jamalpur-1 exploration well in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur, officials confirmed on Sunday (June 1).

Mohammad Mozammel Haque, project director of the Jamalpur-1 well drilling project, said gas was detected on Saturday evening during early testing. The gas is currently flowing at a pressure of 7.2 million pascals (MPa), which is considered moderate to high and indicates good potential.

“We found gas after drilling down to 2,600 metres. Further testing is ongoing, and we expect to get a clear estimate of the reserve in about 15 days,” he told reporters.

The exploration is being carried out by Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), he said. 

According to officials seismic data from as early as 1980 had pointed to possible gas presence in Tartapara village. Later, more detailed surveys were conducted in the 2014–15 and 2015–16 fiscal years.

Based on those findings, drilling officially began on January 24 this year under a three-month project with a budget of Tk 168 crore.

The pressure recorded so far—7.2 MPa, or roughly 70 bar—is a key indicator of the gas flow's strength. Experts say such pressure often points to the possibility of a commercially viable gas field.

MSK/