|| Special Correspondent: Experimental gas production has started from the Srikail-5 well at the Srikail gas field in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla, raising hopes of increasing domestic gas supply and reducing reliance on imported energy.The well, located in Muklishpur village of the Srikail area, was drilled by the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX). Officials said the well is expected to produce around 8–10 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMscfd).Drilling of the evaluation-cum-development deviated well began on September 28, 2025 and was completed on January 18, 2026. The well reached a total depth of 3,685.14 metres measured depth (mMD) and 3,460 metres true vertical depth (mTVD).After completing necessary testing and installations, the well was commissioned on March 4, 2026. It was connected to the Srikail gas field processing plant through a pipeline, and experimental gas supply to the national grid began on March 10.The total cost of drilling and completing the well has reached approximately Tk 132 crore.Promising test resultsTwo drill stem tests (DST) were conducted to evaluate gas flow from different reservoir layers.The first test was carried out in the G-Sand layer between depths of 3,525 and 3,575 metres. The test recorded a gas flow of about 2.32 million cubic feet per day, with a flowing pressure of 357 psi and a formation pressure of 4,850 psi.A second test in the F-Sand layer, located between 3,483 and 3,510 metres, showed a much higher gas flow of around 9.9 million cubic feet per day. The flowing pressure during this test was measured at 1,653 psi, while the formation pressure reached 4,731 psi.Officials said the F-Sand layer appears to be the most promising zone for commercial gas production from the well.Gas reserves and production outlookPreliminary assessments suggest that the F-Sand reservoir contains about 40 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas in place. Of this amount, around 28 BCF is estimated to be recoverable, assuming a recovery rate of about 70 percent.At an average production rate of around 8 million cubic feet per day, the well could supply gas for nearly a decade.Another reservoir layer, the G-Sand zone, is estimated to contain about 25 BCF of gas. However, commercial production from this layer may require advanced technologies such as hydraulic fracturing.Economic significanceThe recoverable gas from the Srikail-5 well has significant economic value. Based on the average price of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), the estimated value of the recoverable gas is about Tk 3,730 crore.At the current consumer-level gas price, the value is estimated at approximately Tk 1,814 crore.Energy analysts believe the additional production could help reduce dependence on imported LNG and improve gas supply to the national grid.Overview of Srikail gas fieldSeveral wells are currently producing gas from the Srikail gas field.The Srikail-2 well, drilled in 2012, began production on March 22, 2013 and is currently producing about 4.2 MMscfd. The Srikail-3 well was drilled in 2013 and started production on July 17 of the same year, supplying around 0.6 MMscfd.Srikail-4 was drilled in 2016 and began production on May 22, producing about 4.9 MMscfd. Another well, Srikail East-1, drilled in 2020, is currently producing around 0.6 MMscfd.BAPEX production portfolioBAPEX currently operates 11 gas fields across the country, seven of which are in production. The Rupganj, Bhola North, Zakiganj and Ilisha fields are yet to start production.Gas fields operated by BAPEX are currently supplying about 101 million cubic feet of gas per day.The total recoverable gas reserves in BAPEX-operated fields are estimated at about 2.64 trillion cubic feet (TCF). Of this amount, approximately 0.71 TCF has already been produced, leaving about 1.74 TCF of recoverable reserves.Officials say continued exploration, drilling of new wells and the use of modern technologies could significantly increase domestic gas production and strengthen Bangladesh’s long-term energy security.