DHAKA: The breakdown-ridden Bangura gas-field will take one more week to resume operation after completion the replacement work on the 100-meter pipeline from the anchor point to the processing plant.

Multinational company Tullow, the operator of the gas mine, has sought the time, said Petrobangla chairman Dr. Hossain Monsur.

Dr. Monsur Thursday told Banglanews24.com.bd over telephone that high officials of Tullow at a meeting with Petrobangla conveyed their decision.

The company officials went to Singapore the same day to bring necessary equipment for the refurbishing work, he added.  

The gas-field was shut down on Monday night as the transmission line got disconnected from the processing plant with a big bang at about 4pm.

“Our procurement manager is going to Singapore and the equipment are expected to be reached Saturday,” said Ataul Haque, External Affairs Manager of Tullow Bangladesh Limited.

An official of the Energy Department, wishing anonymity, told banglanews24.com.bd that Richard A. Lee, Bangladesh country manager of the Irish oil company, sent a letter to Energy Secretary Mohammad Mesbahuddin Wednesday stating that the final decision about Bangura would be conveyed Friday.

The gas-field produces 12 crore cubic feet of gas per day.  But, after the incident, the output dropped to less than half at 5.60 crore cubic feet on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, production in country’s lone offshore gas-field Sangu resumed in a full swing on Thursday morning, two days after its closure. Production in Sangu was suspended Tuesday after one of its generators tripped.

BDST: 1200 Hrs, June 18,2010
HA/MMK/SA/LY/MUA