Based on an unsolicited negotiation, the government last week signed an agreement with US company GSM involving a cost of about Tk 25 crore. The GSM was involved in both the Tengratila blowout remedial operations, and its alleged negligence had caused the second blowout.

"Unsolicited deals are no problem in emergencies. But Titas field situation has become stable from last month, and we now have an opportunity to get the most cost effective consultant through an open tender," said an official.

"Besides, the GSM's proposed remedial action has been criticised by Bapex as a very risky operation. At this point, we should not take an unnecessary risk. Till last month, the situation was different. But now we have the option of going for less risky solutions," he added.

The GSM proposed sinking of a snubbing unit to 'kill the well at its root'.

Bapex believes that gas is flowing in a very high pressure, and if the snubbing unit gets stuck or broken in the process of installing it inside the well, it will trigger a blowout.

The official insisted on pursuing an alternative proposal from Bapex saying that pumping barite chemical in the affected well to seal off leakage of gas is the least risky and most cost effective method. "Even if Bapex is not doing it, some efficient company should be given this task," he added.

Another source said due to unidentified leakage, Titas field's well-3 was producing only 15 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas for the last one year. After Bapex's mid-April intervention, the same well is producing more than 32 mmcfd since last month.

"This means because of ignorance, Bangladesh Gas Field Company Ltd (BGFCL) was allowing a daily wastage of 15 to 18 mmcfd gas for long one year," he pointed out. Monetary value of this wasted gas is a staggering amount.

The well is now leaking around 1 mmcfd gas in a controlled manner. This leaked gas is being burnt for safety reasons.

But gas is still leaking through various points of the ground in at least one km area close to well 10, which is about three km off well-3. Sources said this gas emission might continue for a year and then subside.

"The subsoil layer of this area is charged with gas that leaked out from well- 3 and moved to that area," noted an official.

The remedial action taken by Bapex in mid-April has ultimately sealed the main leakage from well-3, which was identified as the main source of the problem in the gas field in early March by General Manager of Bapex's Well Services Department Yusuf Ali Talukder. Earlier, an experts' committee thought well-10 was the main trouble spot since gas leakage was taking place close to it.

Bapex's mid-April operation spearheaded by Talukder initially looked like a disaster on the first day as a massive quantity of 15 to 18 mmcfd gas started leaking from well-3. Later this gas flow started receding.

"What Bapex did is very much appreciable, especially in the context of its limited resources and technology. We should also appreciate the talent of Yusuf Ali Talukder whose mind worked differently and detected the main source of the problem, which was different from the finding of a competent committee," noted a source.

"Unfortunately when Talukder made his finding, he did not get cooperation from the higher authorities. When he tried to draw the attention of Petrobangla, his superiors issued an advice letter for breaking company norms. Ultimately, his voice was heard but the authorities did not even thank him for the extra-ordinary job he had done," the source added.

Sparse gas leakage through various points of the ground in Brahmanbaria had been noticed for the last three to five years. But since last dry season, the situation has become alarming. Local villagers and farmers had told The Daily Star in February that gas was leaking through more than 3,000 big holes-- including some 30-foot diameter holes-- in IRRI paddy fields, water bodies and the Titas river. Gas emitted through some of the holes is burning with high flames.

Titas field produces 400 mmcfd gas as against the country's total gas demand for 1,500 mmcfd. Discovered in the early sixties by Shell oil, Titas was estimated to have a gas reserve of 5.12 trillion cubic feet (after four decades it now has 2.78 tcf).