International oil companies (IOCs) have played a significant role in Bangladesh’s exploration history, which began nearly 100 years ago.
Of the 64 exploration wells drilled in Bangladesh, IOCs drilled 44 wells with 12 discoveries, including the country’s first seven discoveries and major fields. The remaining 10 fields were discovered by the public sector including Oil & Gas Development Corp. (OGDC) of Pakistan, Petrobangla, and BAPEX.
According to the Hydrocarbon Unit Study, Bangladesh’s proved plus probable ultimately recoverable gas (URG) reserves are estimated at 20.44 tcf in 22 fields. More than 18 tcf or about 92% of these reserves are located in 12 gas fields discovered by IOCs.
From 1996 to 2000, IOCs drilled 10 exploration wells both onshore and offshore Bangladesh, resulting in three discoveries with over 3.5 tcf in estimated proved plus probable URG reserves (Fig. 10).
