A scientific study has revealed that seeping of gas from several leaks in Tengratila-Chhatak gas field in Sunamganj has significantly affected the quality of water in nearby areas.
The study observed that the pollution value of the water in nearby wells and tube wells was higher than the standard limit. This contaminated water was consequently posing a health hazard for humans, as well as animals, in the area. “The water quality of nearby wells and tube wells will deteriorate further as gas is still seeping from the reservoir, to the ground,” it cautioned.
M Farhad Howladar, a faculty at the department of petroleum and mining engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, had conducted the study on “Gas Blowout Impacts on Ground Water Environs around the Tengratila Gas Field, Chattak.”
In January 2005, the reported negligence of Canadian gas exploration company NIKO Resources had led to two explosions and a blaze in Tengratila gas field. The mishaps had resulted in several problems in the surrounding area, with water pollution topping the list.
The study also observed that residents of nearby areas were tapping into the leaking gas, with the help of local technology, and using the contaminated water.
According to Howladar’s findings, the total solids, dissolved solids and suspended in water around Tengratila were 61, 50.2 and 15.5 ppm, respectively. The maximum turbidity was 6.71 NTU, in the water from nearby wells and tube wells. Other parameters were also found to be higher.
However, Petrobangla chairman Dr Hossain Monsur expressed inability to address the issue. “We can’t do anything as the reserve is very small. The field’s first has been already exhausted in the past seven years. The gas seepage would continue till the second layer, too, is exhausted,” he said.
The study said the pH values of the water were in the range of 6.5 to 8.5. The maximum amount of iron and manganese were 1.95 ppm and 0.135 ppm, respectively. Blowout is a major hazard in gas fields and normally affects the gas-bearing geologic formation, structure, local tectonic setting, and environment, and so on. Moreover, the water levels in nearby wells and tube wells decrease, which may be due to the direct or indirect influence of the blowout.
“It can be concluded that the impact of gas blowout is slightly noticeable in the case of water in nearby wells, than in faraway ones. As a whole, the impact of such an incident on ground water environment is not so noticeable in the area at present. Moreover, this research recommends a more detailed study on the total water environment around the area,” the report said.
-With The Independent input
