Smart Management Of Gas Systems Operation

Bangladesh is suffering from a chronic energy crisis - gas supply shortages. The present maximum supply of gas, including imported LNG, is 2800-2900 MMCFD against the coincident peak demand of 4200 MMCFD.

- Khondkar Abdus Saleque

The deficit of 1200-1300 MMCFD is widening every day and has become a pain in the neck for energy sector management. Petrobangla cannot even meet 50% of the gas demand of the power sector, most of the fertilizer factories remain out of operation most of the year, and industries are suffering from a situation like a gas-drought. Many small and medium industries have closed operations because of the gas and electricity crisis, and other impacts. Production of own gas fields is alarmingly decreasing every day due to depletion of proven reserves. Lack of a perspective planning and poor vision of Petrobangla have led to exploration activities for increasing proven reserves from untapped resources onshore and offshore well below the required level. The LNG import initiative has also suffered from an ill-motivated poor mindset. Starting from 2010, only two Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs) could be set up with a total capacity of 1100 MMCFD RLNG supply to the gas grid. At one stage several other FSRUs and a few land-based LNG terminals (LBTs) were planned. Few other initiatives were taken for the import of RLNG by pipeline from the neighboring country. But all these failed to deliver after wasting time, energy and efforts. It is highly uncertain when and where from the new supply of LNG would come as a new plan for LBT at Matarbari is going for public-private partnership. Hence it is highly unlikely that gas supply will increase significantly before 2030. But in the meantime, domestic gas production may even deplete below 1500 MMCFD or less. The present daily production of gas from our own fields is 1900-1950 MMCFD. Chevron, operated by Bibiyana gas field, alone produces 950 MMCFD. Most of the gas wells have a well-paced production plateau. The nature of water drive gas reservoirs is as such that it depletes very sharply. Just imagine what happens if that happens with Bibiyana. Bangladesh has experienced this at Bakhrabad and Shangu. What is the contingency