Chinese technicians exploring petroleum in Dailekh return with samples

DAILEKH: A team of technicians from China has returned home with samples obtained from drilling conducted under the petroleum production exploration project in Jaljale area of Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1 in Dailekh district.

The drilling began towards the beginning of May last year. Geologist Prakash Luintel of the Department of Mines and Geology shared that the drilling reached a depth of 4,013 metres below the ground.

"The technical experts dug up to 4,013 metres deep and collected samples of soil and gravel from every two metres of the depth dug. The samples were categorised as source rock, reserve wire, and seal rock, and were transported in a cargo vehicle to China," Luintel explained.

There were 35 team members from China who came for drilling, and of them, only 15 remain at Jaljale at present while the rest have returned home with samples, he said.

He added that works relating to gas storage and processing for further extraction would commence after three months. In the first month, the Chinese team conducted a field study in Dailekh to explore places with potential petroleum reserves. Ring houses were built accordingly, and drilling was conducted thereafter.

Once the mineral reserves are confirmed at the research site, the team will undergo a financial assessment. Only then will production-related works be accelerated, Luintel said.

It may be noted that an agreement between the government of Nepal and China was signed on February 28, 2019, to conduct research and feasibility studies in Dailekh within three years.

The exploration process, which was conducted with a financial grant of Rs 2.5 billion from the government of China, was stalled and delayed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

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