A subterranean gas blaze triggered during the installation of a deep tube well in Cox’s Bazar’s Inani entered its 19th consecutive day on Saturday, even as the government’s formal 15-day observation period concluded and state exploration teams moved in to bring the well under control.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (Bapex) has begun deploying heavy machinery, pipes, and specialised drilling gear to the site in Ukhiya upazila.
Lorries and cranes began offloading technical equipment on Friday morning, 13 November, with officials confirming that controlled drilling and capping operations will commence once preliminary site preparations are finalised.
The relentless, steady escape of gas for nearly three weeks has led geologists to suspect that a significant underground natural gas reserve may lie beneath the coastal belt.
Bapex’s immediate priority is to extinguish the flames and safely seal the uncontrolled flow before evaluating whether the deposit holds commercial viability.
Genesis of the blaze and emergency containment
According to the Ukhiya upazila administration, the incident began at approximately 7am on 27 October while labourers were sinking a domestic tube well at a residence near the Inani Chhoto Khal Bridge in Ward 6 of Jaliapalong union.
Once the pipe reached a depth of roughly 1,000 feet, pressurised gas surged to the surface and ignited, sparking a continuous fire that has burned ever since.
Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Panna Akter said that local authorities have maintained strict round-the-clock vigilance since the blowout.
To safeguard residents against potential explosions, toxic fumes, or landslides, the administration swiftly imposed Section 144 within a 200-metre radius of the site, backed by continuous deployments of Fire Service personnel and law enforcement agencies.
“A senior team of Bapex experts is currently stationed on the ground to determine the safest method to extinguish the fire, regulate gas pressure, and examine the underlying geological structure,” Akter said.
She noted that once the blaze is brought under control, specialists will run diagnostic tests prior to any deeper drilling, adding that accommodation has been arranged in Cox’s Bazar for the duration of the operation.
She also revealed that a high-level delegation, potentially including the state minister for energy, is expected to inspect the site shortly to guide final policy decisions.
Bapex assessment: Steady pressure points to larger layer
Bapex geologist Nasir Uddin confirmed that prolonged monitoring had demonstrated remarkable stability in both gas flow and reservoir pressure.
Consequently, senior policymakers resolved to prioritise immediate well-control safety before moving toward commercial feasibility studies.
Leading a nine-member Bapex delegation, former general manager Howladar Ahidul Islam told reporters that continuous monitoring over the 15-day window revealed a consistent emission rate, making it hazardous to leave the open flame burning unchecked.
“Our foremost priority is to safely shut in the well as an emergency measure and bring the gas flow under complete control,” Islam explained. “Geological surveys and commercial viability assessments will follow once the site is secured.”
Industry specialists observe that the persistence of steady pressure over nearly three weeks strongly suggests a substantial gas-bearing stratum rather than an isolated, shallow gas pocket.
However, ascertaining the exact volume of the reserve requires rigorous geological mapping and seismic testing.
Bangladesh currently boasts 30 officially discovered gas fields, of which roughly 20 actively supply the national grid, including major producers such as Titas, Habiganj, Bibiyana, Kailashtila, Rashidpur, Beanibazar, Fenchuganj, Jalalabad, Semutang, Bangura, Shahbazpur, Sundalpur, Srikail, Shahjadpur, and Bhola North.
Should sufficient, economically recoverable reserves be verified at Inani, the site is poised to become the nation’s 31st official gas field.
Traces of condensate and shallow reservoir clues
During earlier site inspections, officials from Bapex and Petrobangla closely analysed the characteristics of the flame and emission conditions.
Bapex General Manager of Geology Shamsia Muktadir affirmed that the state agency possesses both the technical expertise and domestic resources to manage the blowout, though she emphasised extreme caution given the unpredictable risks inherent in uncontrolled gas leaks.
Meanwhile, Petrobangla Director for Operations and Mines Engineer Md Shoeb disclosed that a high-level technical meeting, bringing together Bapex, Petrobangla officials, and retired general managers, concluded that the escaping gas could be either thermogenic or biogenic in origin.
Intriguingly, the distinctive coloration of the flames has also raised the possibility that liquid hydrocarbons, such as oil or condensate, may be present alongside the natural gas.
Shoeb noted that preliminary findings point toward a shallow gas reservoir.
While commercial gas deposits in Bangladesh are typically tapped at depths between 1.5 kilometres and 5 kilometres, the Inani blowout occurred at roughly 1,000 feet (around 305 metres), necessitating careful flame-height and flow-rate tracking over the past fortnight.
Broader geological activity and 3D seismic plans
Adding to the intrigue, Shoeb pointed out that gas seepage has been observed burning across several nearby geological strata, a phenomenon likely tied to structural shifts in the coastal zone’s subsurface formations.
To map the wider basin accurately, Bapex plans to execute a comprehensive three-dimensional seismic survey across the Inani area once the immediate crisis is resolved.
Specialists will analyse the resulting subsurface data to determine the true extent of the hydrocarbon deposit, and if economically viable reserves are confirmed, Bapex will move forward with drilling dedicated exploratory and production wells.
