BAPEX Moves to Extinguish Fire at Inani Gas Field as Potential Thermogenic Gas Is Detected for Commercial Production

The Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) has finally initiated operations to bring under control a gas fire that has been burning continuously for 18 days in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Multiple vehicles carrying advanced equipment have begun arriving at the site to extinguish the blaze. Since Friday morning, November 13, BAPEX vehicles transporting technical equipment were seen entering the eruption site adjacent to the Choto Inani Bridge in the Jaliapalong Union of Inani.

According to relevant sources, on the morning of October 27, gas erupted from underground. It caught fire during the drilling of a nearly 1,000-foot-deep tube well in the yard of Mostafa Sikder’s house in the Choto Inani area. The fire has been burning non-stop since then. Initially, upon the advice of experts, the fire was kept under observation for 15 days. SM Nafifun Arham, head of BAPEX’s geological team, had stated that forcibly extinguishing the blaze could cause gas to accumulate underground, posing the risk of a massive explosion. Therefore, the fire was allowed to burn to assess the gas pressure, flow, and nature.

Sample testing at the BAPEX laboratory confirmed the presence of thermogenic gas. Consequently, this is not merely a pocket gas reserve, but rather holds the potential to be a commercial gas field. If confirmed, Inani will become the country’s 31st gas field. With the 15-day observation period concluding, a nine-member high-level technical team arrived at the site today.

Team leader Ohidul Islam Hawlader stated that it is no longer advisable to let the fire burn in its current state. Following the containment of the blaze, there are plans to drill a relief well and conduct a 2D seismic survey. Meanwhile, in the interest of public safety, Section 144 imposed by the upazila administration remains in force within a 200-meter radius of the incident site. Alongside the Fire Service, the Bangladesh Army, and the Police, teams from BAPEX and Petrobangla are monitoring the situation around the clock.