Since its formation Hydrocarbon Unit is playing a very important role in the upstream sector of the gas industry of the country. During 2001- 2002 with the help from Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) this Unit completed a study on the hydrocarbon resource base of the country. In 2002 a report entitled ‘Bangladesh Petroleum Potential and Resource Assessment 2001’ was published. This report reviewed the geological development of the basin and evaluated the resource potential. In addition gas reserve of four major gas fields were re-estimated. Reserve classification system was also addressed in the report. The study was completed in the Unit with participation of Petrobangla, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Co. (BAPEX), Bangladesh Gas Fields Ltd. (BGFCL), Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd. (SGFL), and Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB). The report is the result of cooperation between HCU and Petrobangla, BAPEX, BGFCL, SGFL and GSB.

This report is available at the website of this Unit. Hydrocarbon Unit has institutionalized the reserve updating process and formulates a group of technically efficient manpower for Resources Assessment who can do the function later without any foreign help. The Unit procured Geo-X software for volumetric analysis of reserve and resource and it was used for the study.

As part of the work-plan of the project, Hydrocarbon Unit has finished a study, named Bangladesh Optimal Gas Utilization Study with the help of ECON, an internationally recognized organization about the optimal gas utilization of natural gas of Bangladesh. This study covered important issues like (a) Domestic gas market development (b) Investment requirement (c) Foreign debt and currency reserves (d) Impact on gas reserves (e) Surplus gas exploitation options etc. Actually, the study highlighted the optimal utilization of the only major natural resource of the country from total economic out-look. The Optimal Gas Utilization Study was presented before the petroleum-professionals in 2002.

During 2003 HCU completed a review of gas reserve and re-estimated the gas reserve of the country. Mball software was procured to estimate the reserve of producing gas fields. In 2004 another report entitled “Bangladesh Gas Reserve Estimation Study 2003” has been completed.

Under a government-decision, a “Follow-up" study of the“ Bangladesh Optimal Gas Utilization Study 2002” was taken up by the Hydrocarbon Unit. The follow-up study examined some important issues as was recommended in the earlier study. The final report entitled "Bangladesh Optimal Gas Utilization (Phase II) was completed in 2004.

A mini-data bank has been established in the HCU to handle selected data of the energy sector like (a) Production data, (b) Resource data etc. by using MS Access and GIS Software. On the basis of the mini-data bank, a monthly production report is published regularly from July 2004, which is appreciated by the concerned professionals.

A Cost Data base is established in the Hydrocarbon Unit considering the technical decision-making process in the policy-making level in highly expensive work procedure of the energy sector of the country. The Cost Data base is enriched with the required data of exploration, depletion, production and other main functions about expenses of the energy sector.

A Gas Sales Data-base will be established by the Unit. A model has been developed and data collection from the gas marketing companies is in the process.

A Database will be established on Cultural data of PSC activities using GIS software.

HCU is working as a technical arm of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and offering information-based technical opinions about the operations of the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) with the foreign oil companies. Considering the important role of HCU in the energy sector, government has decided in principle to put HCU on a permanent footing under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. Necessary actions have been taken and the proposal is under consideration of the Government. A Technical Project Proposal (TPP) ‘Strengthening of the Hydrocarbon Unit, Phase II’ is under active consideration of the Government.

A report on Historical Gas and Condensate Production data has been prepared and distributed to the concern agencies in December 2004. The report includes production summary of all the producing and suspended fields, company wise gas production by field, by well and by zone on monthly basis. The report contents various charts showing production trend. This report also includes updated remaining reserve which is given in table below:

Hydrocarbon Unit has prepared a “Guidelines for Exploration and Development Strategy for Bangladesh”. Final version of the report will be distributed by February 2006. The aim of the guidelines is to secure long-term deliverability of natural gas resources for the country.