Geo-resource exploration for sustainable development of energy in Bangladesh constraints of geological and geophysical studies of the continental shelf

Author: Dr. Aftab Alam Khan
DOI: doi.org/10.70279/bmj-v7-i1-1055
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Fundamental requirement of the sustainability of the energy development is an extensive exploration and production of the geo-resources like oil and gas. Continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal of Bangladesh maritime boundary is found to be the most resourceful offshore area where hydrocarbon especially natural gas potentially occurs. Geological and geophysical studies have revealed that down to the 4000m depth from sea floor the offshore basin beneath the continental shelf contains enormous natural gas. Very high formation pressure at depths around 3500m in the wells drilled and the occurrence of gas hydrates at around 400m depth in the continental slope further support the occurrence of natural gas in this offshore basin. The principal approach for the sustainable development of the energy resource needs extensive exploration activities in the continental shelf of the delta. Continental shelf which has developed due to enormous continuous sediments supply and deposition has emerged as the progading delta. The extraction and exploitation of non-living resources like oil, gas, gas hydrates and seabed minerals are the principal economic components for the sustainable energy development. Bangladesh has taken many folds development program in the continental shelf of ocean-based economy and planning the delta in favor of various maritime activities. This study is an effort to understand the continental shelf of the Bengal Delta in the perspective of its origin, formation, and potentiality of geological resources and its vulnerability of geological and atmospheric hazards. This study focuses mainly on to the geological resources like natural gas, gas hydrates and seabed minerals. Continental shelf-slope margin is also vulnerable to geohazards and atmospheric hazards those may hinder the sustainability of the development. This article also focuses on to the physical changes of the coastal belt since the mapping of Rennell in 1778 and the associated factors, vulnerability of geological hazards, review of the published works and revisiting the continental shelf-slope margin on the status of gas occurrence, gas hydrates and ocean related activities.