Bangladesh Gas Field Company Ltd (BGFCL) that owns the gas field woke up to the reality only last week following reports of worsening of the gas leakage, earlier wrongly perceived to have improved.

Sources said the BGFCL at a meeting last week finally decided to appoint a consultant for an investigation into the gas field's overall problem, not just to handle it partially.

But due to strict government procurement regulations, the BGFCL may not be able to deploy a consultant to work in the field before October at the earliest. "Thereby we will continue to witness wastage of huge national resources," said a high official.

After this consultant detects the source or sources of the problem and outlines a plan of action, the authorities will initiate remedial action. This can continue for many months. "When Niko faced Tengratila blowout in June 2005, it had started a remedial action from August and completed the main remedial task by October that year. But that is not going to happen with us," he added.

"We must have some legal framework to deal with an urgent crisis like this one. The gas and power sector is unlike all other sectors, where such a crisis can imply huge losses or even a national disaster. The present procurement rules do not recognise this urgency," he added.

Earlier, based on arguments of a Bapex expert that the leakage problem has originated from well-3 located three to four kilometres off the gas leakage area, the BGFCL floated a tender to assign an operator for remedial action in well-3. Sources said that by the end of this month, the BGFCL would open the tender and select the best bidder for the operation.

"Well-3 will need expert intervention because it is actually unstable. But fixing this well alone is unlikely to resolve Titas field's crisis," said a high official admitting that there is confusion among local experts about the origin of the gas leakage, which is resulting in a very slow response to resolving the crisis.

One expert, who had reviewed data of the gas field to pinpoint the problem, argues that origin of the leakage is well-10, which is close to the leakage area. He says that well-9 should also be looked into. Several experts of foreign oil companies, who looked into the data and made field visits, also agree to this point of view.

But another expert from Bapex had long been arguing that well-3 is the trouble spot as its gas production level has dropped significantly since late 2003, about the same time when the gas leakage problem started to surface slowly.

Presenting data and his interpretation in March, this expert convinced the authorities to look into well- 3 from mid-April. This operation was left incomplete when gas production from this well surged to 30 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) from 15 mmcfd.

Though its gas production had increased, the well became unpredictable, forcing the BGFCL to go for appointing an international operator to fix the problem on an urgent basis. Since this appointment was being made on the basis of unsolicited negotiation, the deal was called off at the last moment on intervention from Bangladesh Bank. After that, the BGFCL floated a tender for the job.

"We are troubled by the Public Procurement Rules, 2003, which outlines elaborate formalities to ensure transparency," said a high official. "When we need an emergency procurement like we need for Titas, the PPR can be counter productive."

Wells 9 and 10 were supposed to undergo a work-over that was approved last year, he said. "The BGFCL took the initiative to purchase materials for the work-over last year. But after complying with the PPR, required materials would be delivered in August this year. Is this how a gas company should operate? Who is going to pay for the gas loss which may be worth Tk 50-60 crore or more?"

Meanwhile, our Brahmanbaria correspondent reports that the number of gas-leaking holes in Titas field location-3 has increased recently. Villagers in the adjacent areas expressed their grievances against the authorities for what they said was not taking any reasonable step to stop the leakage for the last three years.

In recent times, many of the leakage holes have become larger and some of those located in croplands have become sealed by streaming mud due to heavy rains. At the same time, new holes are emerging, and villagers say gas is coming out in big bubbles from croplands and marshy lands there.

Air at the villages is getting full of gas, and the villagers are fearing a possible explosion.

As the entire areas of Sampur and Anadapur villages and Loiska Beel are now submerged with rainwater and all croplands and the beel are under five feet water, bubbling of gas from the holes is visible.

While visiting the areas in a boat, this correspondent found that gas is coming out of water in big bubbles at many spots and small bubbles at many other spots.

Villagers say gas leaking holes have spread like spider's web. Gas is leaking at numerous spots as soil has become soft due to inundation.

Meanwhile, gas is also gushing out through the pipes of all tube wells in two villages. Alongside, underground hot water mixed with gas and petroleum is streaming out in high speed. Finding no other alternative, the villagers are drinking such water and using it for all their work.

About six square kilometre area of Shampur and Anandapur villages, the Titas river and Loiska Beel are at high risk.

According to sources at the deputy commissioner's (DC) office, a five-member Social Survey Committee headed by the ADC (General) through a survey has collected information about all families and their property so that actions can be taken quickly if there is a disaster. The BGFCL however assured the DC office that chances of major disasters were slim.

But people in the localities are fearing sudden explosions. Since the air at Sampur and Anandapur villages is being full of gas, the villagers cannot use fire openly. The gas blowing in the air starts burning as soon as it comes in touch with fire from kerosene lamps and earthen ovens.

In a bid to save lives and property in such situation, the district administration a few months back advised local people over microphones not to use kerosene lamps, hurricanes and fire matches at the trouble spots. And they were advised to use torch lights at night.