DHAKA: Experimental extraction of natural gas from the 3rd well in Shahbazpur gas field has begun in Borhanuddin upazila of the district.

The extraction began 4:30am on Sunday.

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) project director Abdul Halim told banglanews that the experimental extraction of gas has began from the 3rd well to assess the potential reserve of gas in the field.

Formal gas extraction will begin some day later, he added.

The reserve of gas at Shahbazpur gas field is expected of .465 trillion cubic feet.

The 1st and 2nd well of the filed are containing .35 trillion cubic feet extractable gas.

BAPEX assistant managing director Shahdat Hossain said, they will supply gas from the 3rd well to the 225-megawat gas-based power plant in Borhanuddin as the demand of gas has increased.

They are preparing the 3rd well for the supply to the plant, he added.

Earlier in 1995, natural gas was discovered at Shahbazour in Bhola’s Borhanuddin upazila.

However, drilling of the 3rd well began past May.

BDST: 1357 HRS, AUG 31, 2014