Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2010

Bali, Indonesia, 25-29 April 2010

Geothermal Potential in Bangladesh - Results from Investigations of Abandoned Deep Wells

Debendra K. Guha 1, Herbert Henkel 2, Badrul Imam 3

1
Gono University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, email: dkguha04@yahoo.com
2
Department of Land and Water Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, email: herbert@kth.se
3
Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh, email: badrulimam@yahoo.com

Keywords: Tectonic frame, litho-stratigraphy, temperature, subsidence in the west, and rapid subsidence in the central
thermal gradients part with active folding in the east. The volume of
accumulated sediments is over 4 million cubic kilometres
ABSTRACT with a present estimated rate of deposition of about 2.5
billion metric tons per annum (Khan 1991).
Temperature data for a large number of abandoned deep
wells, once drilled for oil and gas exploration, have been The foredeep formed south of the Main Boundary Thrust
collected, together with results from other sources for (MBT) of the Eastern Himalayan Ranges due to the
geothermal conditions. These depend on the ongoing subsidence of the Indian Shield, occupies the north-western
tectonic activity in parts of Bangladesh. Rapidly filling part of Bangladesh, where basement is reached at 2500 m
deep sedimentary basins represent volumes with low depth at Salbanhat well in Tetulia. The Shillong Plateau
thermal gradients (ca 20 K km-1), while rising regions with consisting of Garo-Khasi-Janitia-Mikir Hills of Meghalay
shallow crystalline rocks represent volumes with (India) with about 2000 m elevation, form the north-eastern
considerably higher thermal gradients. Several deep drill boundary of Bangladesh. In contrast the down faulted
holes in the SE slope of the Rangpur Saddle have gradients Surma Basin / Sylhet Trough contains up to 20 km of
of ca 35 K km-1. This region is currently under further sediments. The major tectonic elements of Bangladesh thus
investigation with respect to the hydraulic conductivity of include the following units – see Figure 1.
their deep stratigraphic formations. In the central part of the
Rangpur Saddle local high groundwater temperatures are
observed, especially in connection with graben structures in
the crystalline basement where Gondwana age coal
containing sedimentary units make up the graben fill. At the
base of the coal beds the groundwater temperature is in
excess of 50 oC. Further studies are planned in order to
determine the thermal gradient, the stress and the fracture
status of the rising crystalline basement. A third geothermal
target region is the fold belt in the SE part of Bangladesh,
where locally warm springs occur. A geothermal map of
Bangladesh is presented here for the first time.

The geothermal investigations are a joint project between

the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden and the
Department of Geology at the Dhaka University in
Bangladesh. The project is sponsored by the Futura
Foundation in Stockholm.

1. GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
Bangladesh located at the head of the Bay of Bengal, is
formed by the successive delta systems developed by the
two great rivers of the Ganges (Padma) and the
Brahmaputra (Jamuna). The Himalayan mountain ranges
were uplifted as a result of the collision with the northward
drifting Indian Plate after the break-up of the Gondwana
Continent starting in Upper Jurassic / Lower Cretaceous
time.

The pre-collision geology of Bangladesh can only be

studied in north-western Bangladesh, where the continental
Gondwana sequence with alternating carbonaceous
sandstone and coal seams were preserved in graben
structures of which the shallowest deposits can be seen in Fig.1. Tectonic map of Bangladesh, updated from Guha
the Barapukuria graben at depths of only 117 m. Here the (1978), showing the major tectonic units
Gondwana (Permian) sediments overlie the Achaean discussed in the text.
basement which and in turn are unconformably overlain by The Indian Shield/Platform contains Achaean rocks and
the Plio-Pleistocene deposits of Dupi Tila Sandstones and forms the western margin of Bengal Basin. Vast areas of
Madhupur Clay under a thin alluvial cover. The post- West Bengal (Midnapur), Bihar (Singbhum) and Orissa
collision geology is a record of uplift in the north, slow

1
Guha et al

have basement outcrops containing gneisses, schists and of Plio-Pleistocene age. It is evident from seismic data
granites. acquired by the Oil and Gas Development Corporation
(OGDC) during 1963-64 in the Rangpur - Dinajpur
The Bengal Foredeep occupies the vast area between the districts, that both the northern and the southern slopes of
Hinge Line and the Arakan Yoma Folded System and plays Rangpur Saddle are quite gentle. In the southern slope, the
the most important role in the tectonic history of Bengal basement plunges gently from Madhyapara towards the
Basin. The Bengal Foredeep can be divided into two major south east up to the Hinge Zone, an area known as the
regions: a Western Platform Flank and an Eastern Folded Bogra shelf. Figure 2 shows an extention of the Tectonic
Flank. The Western Platform flank is further subdivided map of Bangladesh covering NW Bangladesh with some
into the Faridpur Trough, the Barisal-Chandpur High, the further structural features added. Figure 3 shows a
Hatiya Trough, the Madhupur High and Sylhet Trough. generalised thermal section across the Rangpur Saddle.
The Arakan-Yoma Folded System: Only the western
marginal part of the Arakan-Yoma Folded System has been
shown in the tectonic map (Fig.1). The oldest rocks
exposed in the Araka-Yoma belong to the axial system of
Triassic age which are highly folded and thrusted and
consist of dark shales, sandstones and limestones. A wide
belt of Cretaceous and Eocene rocks stretches from the
Assam-Myanmar border west of the upper reaches of the
Chindwin River along the inaccessible mountainous tracts
of the Arakan-Yoma down to Cape Negaris. This vast area
of Tertiary folding represents a sub-meridional trending belt
of uplifts composed of Pre-Cambrian, Paleozoic and
Mesozoic rocks.

It is essential to have clear conception about the structural

tectonic framework of Bangladesh in order to evaluate the
prospect of mineral resources including the geothermal
energy potential. The first tectonic map of the then East
Pakistan was prepared by in 1964. Continued improvements
were made in connection with hydrocarbon prospecting.
Concise characteristic of basic tectonic elements of the then
East Pakistan and its adjacent areas prepared in 1965 (Guha
and Kitovani 1965). The tectonic framework and oil and
gas prospects of Bangladesh were published in Guha (1978
).In the next chapters, the main geological regions are
Fig. 2. Geotectonic map of NW Bangladesh. (the
shortly described from the NW (Sub-Himalayan Foredeep)
locations of T Thakurgaon, B Barakupuria, J
to the SE (Arakan-Yoma Folded System), with comments
Jairpurhat, M Madhyapara, that are mentioned
on their geothermal prospects.
in the text). The Garo-Rajmahal Gap is between
the western and eastern S-N striking fault zones
2. THE TECTONIC UNITS AND THEIR (blue), which seen in the NW-SE direction (Fig.
GEOTHERMAL PROSPECTS 3) as the Rangpur Saddle. Areas of recent uplift
2.1 Sub-Himalayan Foredeep. are light gray and outlined green. The region of
Gondwana graben structures is dark gray and
The Himalayan Foredeep lies south of the Main Boundary outlined brown.
Thrust (MBT) all along the foothills of the Himalayas. At
Salbanhat, at the NW tip of Bangladesh the basement An underground mine for extraction of hard rock is now in
occurs at 2500 m depth. The temperature at this depth is 79 operation at Madhyapara. There are a number of graben
o
C. The Northern Slope of Rangpur Saddle has been structures in the south-western part of the Rangpur Saddle,
included in the Himalayan Foredeep by Reiman (1986) in some of which have high grade sub-bituminous Gondwana
his tectonic scheme of Bangladesh. The Neocene of the coal of Permian age. At Barapukuria, an underground mine
Siwaliks are well developed in the Himalayan Foredeep and is in operation now. A feasibility study of Gondwana coal
attains thickness of 3 to 4.5 km with predominantly deposits found in Khalaspir is yet to be completed, while
sandstones, subordinate shales and clay and gravel beds. the feasibility study of Fulbari coal deposit is completed.
Although the sedimentary units have high porosity, the
thermal gradient is too low to make a geothermal prospect The Garo-Rajmahal Gap between the Indian Shield of
in association with the only deep well at Salbanhat. Rajmahal and the Pre-Cambrian basement of the Garo Hills
(Shillong Massif is the result of the Himalayan orogenic
2.2 Rangpur Saddle and the Garo – Rajmahal Gap movements during the Pleistocene along a NW-SE zone of
fractures now occupied by the courses of the Ganges and
The Rangpur Saddle represents the Indian Platform and Brahmaputra rivers. In the western extremity of the Garo
connects the Indian Shield with the Shillong Massif and the Hills, there are a number of basement faults and monoclines
Mikir Hills. The Shillong Massif is a large thrust block of trending N-S to NW-SE with persistent dips towards west.
the Indian Shield. In the Rangpur Saddle the basement is The recent Dhubri earthquake epicentre was located along a
most uplifted and covered with thin sedimentary deposits. fault plane in the western margin of the Garo Hills. This
The tentative boundary of the Rangpur Saddle at the fault passing through Dhubri and trending approximately
northern and the southern slopes has been seismically N- S has been traced by geophysical methods for 120 km.
defined by the approximately 700 m depth contour. In the On the western part of Garo-Rajmahal gap a similar N-S
Madhyapara area the basement occurs at only 130 m depth trending fault has been traced for 160 km from Kishengonj
and is overlain by Dupi Tila Sandstone and Madhupur Clay
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 Guha et al

to English Bazar in Malda. These two faults that form the Traps extends to the east and south east below the Gangetic
eastern and western margin of Garo-Rajmahal Gap enclose plain. They mark the beginning of the break-up of east
the Rangpur Saddle. Gondwanaland from the Southern Super Continent. The
sequence comprises of 500-700 m of bedded basalts or
In the western part of the Rangpur Saddle, a number of dolerites with 35 m thick inter-stratified sedimentary beds
graben and half graben structures have been found with (inter- trappean beds) of siliceous and carbonaceous clays
Gondwana sediments, some of which contain coal seams. and sandstones. The shales have turned procellanoid-like
The Gondwana sandstone sequence below the coal seams in due to heat while in contact with the basalt flows. The
Barakupuria coal mine has a temperature of 50 oC at a Rajmal Stage consists of 15 lava flows and 11 inter-
depth of 400 m. The coal seams together have an insolating trappean beds in the type locality (Shah 1974). An early
effect resulting in increased temperature in the basement Cretaceous (Albian) age (100-105 Ma) has been assigned
below. based on results of K-Argon dating concurrently with
paleomagnetic measurements (Mc Daugall 1970).
At Thakurgaon warm water, up to 36 oC, has been observed
(Rahman 2006) in irrigation wells at depths of ca 80 m.
Here Madhupur Clay (ca 20 m) is acting as an insolating
layer, resulting in the observed increased temperatures
below. Figure 3 shows a compilation of some observed
shallow temperature profiles with their respective litho-
stratigraphy.

Fig.4. Near surface temperature profiles in: A

Madhyapara (alluvium, clay, sandstone, hard
rock, not shown), B Barapukuria (Pliocene
sediments (clay yellow), Gondwana sandstone
and coal beds (dark gray)), and C Thakurgaon
Fig.3. Generalised section NW-SE across the crystalline (alluvium, clay (blue), sand, that illustrate the
basement rise of the Rangpur Saddle (gray). The high near surface temperature regime in the
thermal contours (red) are based on Rangpur Saddle.
measurements in the Salbanhat and Singra well
and the Barapukuria Gondwana graben (green). Basaltic volcanic rocks of Rajmahal Traps have been
Geothermal resources in the Rangpur Saddle penetrated in boreholes at Kansat, Patnitola near the Indian
would be found in the crystalline basement. border, Singra (68 m) and Kuchma (70 m), but are not
encountered in the Bogra well. In wells drilled in the
As there are no deep wells in the region, the temperatures at Jamalgonj area farther to the east, only the marginal
depth in the crystalline basement are unknown. To establish remnants of the Rajmal Stage were encountered. Rajmahal
a representative temperature profile, a test drill hole to at traps were penetrated in the wells EDH-1 (545m) and EDH-
least 1 km depth would be required. To assess the 2 (338 m) of the Kansat area, while only minor thicknesses
geothermal potential of the region in addition permeability were encountered in the wells EDH-18 (35 m) and EDH-22
tests are required for the basement rocks. (65 m) of the Patnitola area. The exploration Drill Hole
(EDH-1) of Kansat encountered a most prolific
By neo-tectonic activity, local areas of upheaval are being development of 12 lava flows with 11 inter-trappean
developed. The study of these neo-tectonic featured is sedimentary beds consisting mostly of serpentinized shale.
based on hypsometric maps, maps of erosonal cuttings Besides, agglomerate, tuff and ash beds were also
along rivers, maps of the co-efficient of river meandering encountered. The Rajmahal Trap formation is most likely
together with extensive morphological studies aided by un-permeable but represents an important marker horizon
detailed topographic maps, aerial photographs and satellite that may be mapped magnetically.
images. Within the area of the geotectonic Map of NW
Bangladesh, these areas up recent upheaval are marked. The
2.3 Bogra Shelf
ones in Thakurgaon, south of Dinajpur town, in Rangpur
and west of Rangpur (Phulbari) are the most prominent. In The Bogra Shelf (Bogra slope) represents the southern
the Madhupur area, the Madhupur high, the Nagarpur slope of the Rangpur Saddle which is a regional monocline
dome, and the Nandina upheaval are noted. (Up to seven plunging gently towards south east to the Hinge zone (see
prominent upheavals have also been mapped in the Megna Fig.1). This zone marks the transition between the Rangpur
estuarial area). Saddle and the Bengal Foredeep from depositional as well
as structural point of view. The width of Bogra Shelf varies
The Rajmal Traps are similar to the Deccan traps in from 60- 125 km. up to the Hinge Zone and the thickness of
composition and vary from dolerite to basalt in texture. The the sedimentary sequence increases towards the southeast.

3
Guha et al

Stanvac Oil Company (SVOC) carried out aero-magnetic Formation is shown in Figure 6. The coverage with
and seismic surveys in the mid-fifties followed by two reflection seismic lines is in the near surroundings of the
wells at Kutchma and Bogra. Seismic contours of the top of two Bogra deep wells gives a rather detailed picture of
Eocene Limestone (Bogra Limestone) show regional dip of faults that may restrict lateral permeability.
2-3 degrees besides revealing a number of NE-SW trending
faults of which the Bogra fault is the most prominent. The
attitude of the Sylhet Limestone most possibly conforms to
the basement surface. Four deep wells have been drilled in
the Bogra slope at distances of 22 – 26 km: Singra to the
southwest, Bogra to the northeast and Kuchma in between.
The litho-stratigraphic correlation between these wells is
shown in Figure 5.

Fig.6. Seismic time contours (gray) for the top of the

Cherra Formation and the location of the wells
Bogra-1 and 2. Reflection seismic lines are shown
in red, fault zones in blue. Together with a
similar map of the base of this formation, the
potential volume for geothermal energy
production can be assessed. The seismically
mapped fault zones limit the direction into which
geothermal exploration is be possible.
The Singra well (TD 4100 m) drilled by Petrobangla in
1981 is the deepest well ended at the top of the basement
which is overlain by coal bearing Gondwana (1200 m)
followed by 7 m of Rajmahal Trap, 113 m of Shibgonj Trap
Wash (Upper Cretaceous), 377 m of Cherra
Sandstone(Palaeocene), 214 m of Eocene Limestone with a
20 m shale band in the middle, 5 m Kopili Shale (Upper
Eocene) 120 m Barail the rest successively by Miocene-
Pliocene (Surma and Dupi Tila) and Pleistocene (Madhupur
Fig.5. Litho-stratigraphic correlation between the wells Clay) with a thin alluvial cover.
Singra, Kuchma and Bogra, showing vertical
displacements related to faulting and the The Eocene Limestone thins out up-dip from 214 m at
occurrence of potentially permeable lithologies at Singra to mere 20 m at Jaipurhat where a cement plant was
depth where temperatures are above the planned based on this subsurface limestone deposit in the
minimum required for electricity production. early sixties but the project did not succeed. Borehole EDH-
4 at Jaipurhat penetrated basement (11 m) on which
The Kutchma well (TD 2875 m) drilled be SVOC in 1959 successively laid a thin bed of Cherra Sandstone, Eocene
encountered 495 m thick Gondwana coal bearing sequence limestone (20 m), a thin bed of Kopili Shale followed by
at interval 2381-2875 m for the first time which was sediments of Surma Group, Dupi Tila, Madhupur Clay and
overlain by 70 m of Rajmahal Trap (Upper Cretaceous), alluvium. In Jamalgonj Gondwana coal (7 seams) was
347 m Cherra Sandstone (Palaeocene), 190 m Eocene encountered at interval 850-1122 m. The Krupp Company
Limestone with sandstone bed in the middle, 160 m Barail of Germany made a feasibility report for development of a
(Oligocene) and the rest with Mio-Plio - Pleistocene coal mine but the project did not succeed.
sediments and Holocene deposits.
The litho-stratigraphic columns show that faulting took
The Bogra-1 well drilled by SVOC in 1960 with TD 2187 place in the Singra – Kuchma – Bogra area with vertical
m penetrated 44 m of basement (granite, gneiss, schists and displacements of about 400 m between Singra and Kuchma
pegmatite) followed by 167 m Cherra Sandstones, 210m of occur with respect Sylhet limestone marker horizon.
Eocene Limestone with a thin band of Kopili shale and the Rajmahal Trap is absent in Bogra while it occurs in
rest with Oligocene- Miocene- Pliocene- Pleistocene Kuchma at a depth of 2.3 km and here the vertical
sedimentary sequence without the Gondwana and Rajmahal displacement between Kuchma and Bogra is about 700 m,
Traps. Detailed reflection data and their interpretation make restricted to the stratigraphy below the Sylhet Limestone
it possible to estimate potential volumes of geothermal and Cherra formation.
important lithologies. As an example, the top of the Cherra
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 Guha et al

The geothermal gradients observed at Singra, Kuchma and and is about 150 km wide, covering an area of 35 000 km2
Bogra are very similar, up to 35 K km-1, see Figure 7. In of on-shore area. A large number of narrow, elongated S-N
this region, potential geothermal energy resources are in the trending folds of the eastern part of Bangladesh, Tripura,
Sylhet Limestone, the Cherra and Gondwana sequences. southern Assam, Mizoram and the Myanmar territory
adjacent SE of the Chittagong Hill Tracts occupy the
2.4 Deep Sedimentary Basin Folded Belt west of the Arakan Yoma Folded System. The
folds are characterized by ridges, box-like in cross section
The Hinge Zone is a tectonic element of regional
with variable width and high amplitude, oriented en-
importance and has played a major role in the development
echelon with the adjacent structures. The elevation of these
of the Bengal Basin. It is a narrow zone trending SSW-
elongated anticline folds ranges from 100 to1000 m in
NNE from Sylhet-Mymensingh-Panba-Calcutta and further
Bangladesh. Some of the structures are faulted and thrusted
to the southwest along the coastline of Orissa. It is bound
and the intensity of folding increases gradually from west to
by the Bogra Shelf (or south slope of the Rangpur Saddle)
east. Consequently the structures of the eastern part are
by the seismic depth of 3500 m to the top of the Eocene
tightly folded, faulted and thrusted with narrower synclines
Sylhet Limestone, the most prominent sedimentary reflector
between them. The Neogene sedimentary sequence
in Bangladesh and West-Bengal. The seismic depth of 5000
developed here are largely un-fossiliferous and consists
m of the Sylhet Limestone is the south-eastern boundary of
mainly of the alteration of shales, clays, claystones,
the Hinge Zone, also known as the Hinge Line. The dips
siltstones and sandstones with occasional intra-formational
increase from 3-5 o in the shelf monocline to 15-20 o in the
conglomerates which an be subdivided into 9 formations on
Hinge Zone as evident from Sylhet Limestone. The Hinge
the basis of lithology (Kitovani and Guha 1965) as in Table
Zone is possibly tectonically related to a deep seated
1.
basement fault that probably started with the break up of the
eastern Gondwana continent. The Sylhet Limestone The Palaeocene sediments are subsided to greater depths
reflector can be traced into the basin clearly up to 6500 m and have not been encountered in any well except in
depth and flattens below 5000 m depth. In the northeast, Atgram IX which penetrated 860 m of Renji and 260 m of
Hinge Zone is connected with the Dauki Fault by a series of Jenam sequence of Barail (Reiman 1986). The depth of
west–east trending faults. basement is not known but can be of the range of ca 20 km.
The Faridpur Trough situated adjacent to Hinge Zone and The Folded Belt is sub-divided into a Western Zone and an
is characterized by a general gravity low and the Eastern Zone according to the intensity of folding and other
development of Neocene sequences. The Sylhet Limestone structural features.The Western Zone consists of a large
is 6500 m depth in area south of the confluence of the number of relatively simple anticline structures with 27
Padma and the Jamuna rivers. known structures in Bangladesh,10 in adjacent regions of
India and 3 in Myanmar. The Western Zone is the most
The Barisal-Chandpur High is a tectonic zone of uplift.
important and prospective oil and gas province of
Located between the Faridpur Trough and the Hatiya
Bangladesh with 12 fields from Kailas Tila in the north to
Trough of the Bengal foredeep, the Barisal-Chandpur High
Semutang in the south.
is characterized by general gravity maxima with SW-NE
trend. The width of the zone is about 60 km and
corresponds to an uplift of the sedimentary cover. Table 1. Stratigraphic units and lithologies in the upper
sequences of the Fold Belt.
The Hatiya Trough represents the deepest trough of the
Bengal Basin and has received the highest accumulation of Group Formation Rock types Thickness
clastic sediments. The axis of the Bengal Foredeep runs (m)
through the apex of the Hatiya Trough. Shahbazpur
(Bhola), Kutubdia, Sangu and a number off-shore Dupi Dupi Tila Sandstone (SSt.) 150 - 1000
anticlinnal structures are located here, of which Sangu is Tila and Clay
under hydrocarbon production while Shahbazpur and
Kutubdia are awaiting development. Tipam Girujain Clays with SSt. 100 - 300
Clays
The Madhupur High is a Pleistocene terrace separating the
Faridpur Trough from the Sylhet Trough (Surma Basin). Tipam SSt. with shales 400 – 1 200
Here the basement is relatively uplifted as evident from Sandstones (Sh.)
gravity and aero-magnetic data. Morphological studies
Surma Upper Boka Shales 300 - 400
reveal a pronounced recent morphological upheaval east of
Bil
Madhupur. The Nagarpur dome and the Nandina high are
regarded as protrusions from the basement without
Middle Boka SSt. and Sh. 700 - 900
deforming the sedimentary sequence overlying these
Bil alternation
features.
Lower Boka Shales 300 - 400
In the deep sedimentary basin the average geothermal
Bil
gradient is about 20 K km-1, and less, see Figure 7, which is
rather low and therefore of limited interest for geothermal
Upper SSt. and Sh. 1 200 – 1
resources, unless the abandoned wells are extremely deep.
Bhuban alternation 500

2.5 Folded Belt Middle Shales 800 - 1000

The Folded Belt (or the folded eastern flank of Bengal Bhuban
Foredeep) represents the most prominent tectonic element
of the Bengal Foredeep, with general sub-meridional Lower Sh. and SSt. 1 000-1 200
trending hills parallel to the Arakan Yoma Folded System. Bhuban alternation
The Folded belt extends S-N within Bangladesh for 450 km
5
Guha et al

Hot springs have been observed at Barbarkund and in near future. Bangladesh has started mining of coal for
Gobaniya Chara in the Sitakund anticline with temperatures power generation at Barapukuria, but the mine is yet to
of up to 35 oC. (Guha and Henkel 2005). In the Sitakund attain its production target which is reduced by water
well 5, the geothermal gradient is 25 K km-1. In the flooding and very high temperatures. Open pit mining is
sedimentary sequence to 2.3 km depth, consisting of mainly being resisted by the people of the Fulbari area and hence
shales, the gradient is slightly higher, indicating a lower coal has a very limited role to meet the huge energy
thermal conductivity and hence an insolating effect to demand. The scope for hydroelectricity is also very limited
warmer and deeper formations. In the Bakhrabad well 1, the as the only hydroelectric project of the country at Kaptai is
geothermal gradient has been found at 30 K km-1 (Kabir running much below is installed capacity. In this context it
2008). The geothermal gradient for Sitakund-5 is seen in is high time that Bangladesh harnesses renewable energy
Figure 7. resources like solar, wind and geothermal energy. Solar
energy has limitation for large scale production due to high
The Eastern Zone includes the more steeply folded and per unit cost of generation of electricity. Wind power is yet
faulted anticline structures where 11 are known in to make a positive impact as it is only at experimental stage
Bangladesh and 21 in the adjacent parts of India. due to the weak and seasonal nature of wind speed.
The anticline structures can turn out to be of significance The rapidly rising demand for electricity is related to
also regarding geothermal energy prospects as there are irrigation needs in the rural areas and air conditioning in the
many dry wells reaching to relatively higher depths and urban areas. The rural demand could be covered by local
thus high temperatures. production of geothermal electricity from deep abandoned
wells. However the urban demand should be reduced by a
combination of adequate building methods and the use of
the subsurface geological formations for both geothermal
cooling and heating. This can be accomplished using
efficient heat pump systems producing both the required
cooling for indoor climate conditioning and heating for
warm water production.

The geothermal energy resource should be given emphasis

now, as geothermal energy is green, local and continuously
available, independent of wind and sun variations. The high
cost of drilling a well can be reduced by using the existing
abandoned on-shore dry wells where the geothermal
gradient is sufficiently high (like over 30 K km-1) and
where porous and permeable reservoir sandstones are
penetrated.

The study of geothermal conditions in Bangladesh has now

resulted in clearer pattern for the geothermal energy
potential, related to the major tectonic-structural regions,
illustrated in Figure 8.

1 – The Sub-Himalayan foredeep in NW Bangladesh,

where relatively low thermal gradients and only one deep
drill hole occurs, is barely feasible to explore geothermal
Fig. 7. Examples of three characteristic geothermal energy with present technology of electricity generation.
gradients obtained from measurements in deep
abandoned wells. From left: The deep basin well 2 – The Rangpur saddle, where relatively high surface
Rashidpur-1, Siltakund-5 at the margin of the temperatures have been observed in connection with some
Fold Belt, and Singra-1 at the Bogra Shelf. The irrigation wells, in coal bearing graben structures and
different attitudes of the thermal gradient are underground hard rocks mine. The geothermal resource is
related to the thermal conductivity of the local likely located within the uplifted basement and would
lithologies at depth. require hydraulic fracturing methods to create permeability
at depth with sufficient high temperature for present
3. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS technology of electricity generation. As fairly high
Presently Bangladesh is mainly dependent on natural gas temperatures may be reached at reasonable drilling depth,
for power generation, fertilizer production and for further study of the region is recommended by pilot drill
industrial, commercial and domestic purposes. The holes to ca 1 km depth to establish a proper geothermal
population of Bangladesh is about 150 million, the 8th gradient.
largest in the world, which is increasing at the rate of about
2% a year. The demand for electricity and energy resources 3 – The Bogra Shelf, with the deep wells at Singra, Kuchma
is rising at 10% per year. The country is already in short and Bogra potentially offers such favourable conditions for
supply of over 1 GW of power which is being managed by geothermal energy. The Singra well with over 150 oC
painful load shedding, causing much hardship to people and bottom hole temperature is the most promising of the three
insufficient power supply for irrigation, affecting areas and a feasibility study is part of the ongoing project.
agricultural output immensely. The porosity of Bhuban sandstone, Sylhet limestone,
Cherra sandstone and Gondwana sandstone varies from 7-
The production of gas is above 600 billion cubic feet per 20%. The permeability needs to be ascertained from cores
annum and the demand is rising at 10-12% per year over of the Singra well regarding the Lower Bhuban to
the unmet demand. The present reserve of gas is likely to be Gondwana sandstones. Similar studies should also be done
depleted by the year 2015 if no big gas field is discovered for the cores of the Kutchma and Bogra wells. Additional
6
 Guha et al

reflection seismic lines may also needed in the Singra and REFERENCES
Kuchma areas for the assessment of available volumes for Boris, F., 1963. Petroleum Possibilities of Pakistan.
geothermal energy. Unpublished Report by French Institute of Petroleum.
4 – The Deep Basin areas are continuously loaded with cool Guha, D.K, and Henkel, H., 2005. Abandoned on-shore
sediments and the geothermal gradients are very low. deep wells-a potential geothermal energy resource for
Despite some deep drill holes, they are barely feasible to rural Bangladesh. WGC 2005.
explore for geothermal energy with present technology for
electricity generation. Guha,D.K, 1978. Tectonic Framework and Oil & Gas
Prospects of Bangladesh. Proc.of the 4th annual Conf.
5 – The margin of the Folded Belt, where hot springs occur Bangladesh Geol. Soc.: 65-75.
in connection with local tectonic structures, and the Guha, D.K., Bakhtine, M.I, Giasuddin, A., 1966.
geothermal gradients are relatively high, further mapping of Geological Structure and Oil & Gas Prospects of
conditions for geothermal energy my be rewarding. Chittagong Hill Tracts, East Pakistan. Proc. of the 1st .
Petroleum symposium by the Petroleum Institute of
Pakistan in Karachi.
Guha,D.K, 1973. Oil & Gas Possibilities of Bangladesh.
Proc. of 1st Conf. of Geological Society of Bangladesh.
Guha,D.K, 1975. Geology and Oil & Gas prospects of
Sylhet District. Proc. 3rd Conf of Geological Society of
Bangladesh.
Guha, D.K., and Kitovani, S.K., 1963. Geological Oil &
Gas Prospects of Semutang Anticline. Unpublished
Report Oil and Gas Development Corporation of
Pakistan (OGDC).
Guha, D.K, 1963. Correlation of Neogene Sediments of
Chittagong Hill Tracts, East Pakistan. Unpublished
Report Oil and Gas Development Corporation of
Pakistan (OGDC).
Guha, D.K., and Kitovani, S.K., 1964. Geology and Oil &
Gas Prospects of North-Western part of Chittagong
and Chittagong Hill Tracts of East Pakistan.
Unpublished Report Oil and Gas Development
Corporation of Pakistan (OGDC).
Guha,D.K. and Kitovani, S.K., 1965. Geology and Oil &
Gas prospects of NW part of Chittagong & Chittagong
Hill Tracts with 1st Tectonic Framework of East
Pakistan. Unpublished Report Oil and Gas
Development Corporation of Pakistan (OGDC).
Fig. 8. Geothermal map of Bangladesh showing the
temperatures at 3 km depth, based on data of Guha,D.K., 1966. Geology and Oil & Gas Potential of
this project in Kabir (2008). The deep wells in the Bandarban and Sardeng Anticlines of East Pakistan.
Bogra Shelf are the primary target for further Unpublished Report Oil and Gas Development
investigations of the geothermal energy potential. Corporation of Pakistan (OGDC).

It is strongly recommended that Government of Guha,D.K. and Giasuddin, A., 1967: Geology and Oil &
Bangladesh, development partners, donors, non- Gas Prospects of Chittagong and Chittagong Hill
governmental agencies and private investors give due Tracts of East Pakistan. Unpublished Report Oil and
importance to geothermal energy resource development for Gas Development Corporation of Pakistan (OGDC).
power generation. Guha,D.K. and Sovolov, I.,1968. Geology and Oil & Gas
Prospects of Sylhet area of East Pakistan. Unpublished
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Report Oil and Gas Development Corporation of
This project is a cooperation between the Department of Pakistan (OGDC).
Land and Water Resources Engineering at the Royal Guha,D.K., and Sovolov, I.,1969. Geology and Oil & gas
Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden and the Prospects of Patharia, Harargaj and Fenchugonj
Departrment of Geology at the Dahaka University in Anticlines with special Reference to North Eastern
Dhaka, Bangladesh. The project is sponsored by the Futura Border Belt of Sylhet of East Pakistan. Unpublished
Foundation in Stockholm. We thank Petrobangla and Report Oil and Gas Development Corporation of
BAPEX for giving access to their data regarding deep Pakistan (OGDC).
abandoned wells, without which this project would not be
possible. We will especially acknowledge the cooperation Ismail, M., and Shamsuddin, A.H.M., 1991. Organic matter
of the Geothermal Research group at the Geology maturity and its relation to time, temperature and depth
Department with Prof. Hossein Monsur and the support in the Bengal Foredeep, Bangladesh. Journal of
given to the project by Prof. Monirul Hoque. Southeast Asia Eart Science 5:381-390.
Kabir, S. M., 2008. Subsurface temperature and geothermal
gradient in Bangladesh. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis at
7
Guha et al

the Department of Geology, Dhaka University. Roll Mathur, L.P. and Evans, P, 1964. Oil in India.
No CH 3202, (2003-4).
Petrobangla 1984. Exploration Opportunity in Bangladesh
Khan, F.H., 1991. Geology of Bangladesh. University (PSC Document).
Press, Dhaka.
Rahman, M., 2006. Geothermal Potential Resources in
Khandoker, R.A., and Haque, M., 1984. Temperature Thakurgaon District, Northern Bangladesh.
Distribution and its Relation to Hydrocarbon Bangladesh Journal of Geology 25:13-30.
Accumulation in Sylhet Trough, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Journal of Geology 3:19-25. Reiman, K., 1993: Geology of Bangladesh.

Majeed, M.A., 1966. Hundred Years of Oil Exploration in Sen Gupta, S., 1966. Geological & Geophysical Studies in
Pakistan. Proc. of the 1st Petroleum Symposium of Western part of Bengal Basin. Am. Assoc. of
Pakistan. Petroleum Geologists Bull. 50:1001-1017.