Gas emission near B'baria field threatens people, ecology

Underground water accompanied by natural gas gushing out from the mouth of a tube-well at Shyampur village in Brahmanbaria.Photo: STAR

Emission of natural gas through thousands of holes at Shyampur and Anandapur villages, Loiska Beel and Titas riverbed from Bakail and Shuhilpur areas near Brahmanbaria Titas Gas Field is posing threat to people and environment.
A number of small holes that emerged three years ago have now expanded into big ones and the problem is gradually affecting new areas.
As a remedy for the situation, authorities in early February this year completed killing of dilapidated well No 3 of Brahmanbaria Titas Gas Field but emission of gas through holes in the nearby areas has continued.
A large amount of gas accompanied by water, oil and mud are coming out through the holes by jerking with roaring sound continuously.
The foam created by the bubbling gas and water pollution are affecting growth of fishes.
Mud and oily water from the holes have started rolling around, causing damage to croplands at Loiska Beel, while gas from the holes is polluting air.
A big hole covering an area of 10-metre diameter in the riverbed near the eastern bank of Titas River is continuously expanding, posing threat in the surrounding areas.
The natural gas accompanied by water and oily liquid is spurting out through the mouths of the tube wells and the liquids are rolling down to the low lands, turning the soil hard.
The villagers said continuous pressure of ground water is causing damage to the tubewells. Two tubewells in Shyampur village have been uprooted and the ground water with gasses is speedily coming out through the holes.
Attempt to use the gas for cooking food poses risk of accident.
Last year a boy received burn injuries when he was trying to cook potatoes in the uncontrolled gas fire.
The villagers said the roaring sound of gasses disturbs their sleep at night and they are in panic of fire incident and subsidence of land.
Bangladesh Gas Field Company Limited (BGFCL) in Brahmanbaria has arranged announcement through loudspeakers in the affected areas warning people not to make fire near the gas emitted through holes on the ground.
BGFCL also hoisted red flags at all risky spots and distributed leaflets to make the people aware of the situation.
The villagers have said that
The BGFCL authorities were informed of the situation about three years ago but they ignored the matter that time, said several villagers.
After one year they took decision to repair the dilapidated wells of Titas Gas Field.
As they started examining on it, they found that due to lack of proper cementation in the well the gas was emitting through holes there.
Built about 40-year-old ago, well No 3 of Brahmanbaria Titas Gas Field developed several leakages on the casings of the well and smooth supply of gas to the national grid was disturbed.
To stop the leakages of the well No 3, BGFCL authorities employed local gas explorer company Bapex but as they started work for repairing the well on Aril 14 last year, gas pressure doubled, posing the risk of a blow-out.
Later on January 10 this year, M/S Boots & Coots International, an US-based gas control company, started work for 'killing' or permanent abandonment of the gas well and BGFCL Managing Director Jahangir Kabir in a press conference on February 4 this year announced the well a dead one.
BGFCL authorities earlier said the emitting of gas through thousands holes at Anandapur, Shampur villages and Loiska Beel would be stopped after killing gas well No 3.
But emission of gas has continued, said Md Mubarak Munshi, chairman of Shuhilpur union.
The BGFCL MD, however, has said emission of gas will be stopped within five to six months.
They are continuously monitoring the situation of the seepage area of the affected villages and also deputed specialists to observe the situation, he added.