Earlier, the company planned to raise its gas supply to national grid from the gas field by putting the two newly drilled wells into production in April this year. It was first deferred in July. Then it was again rescheduled in November.

Finally, the company fixed a target to start the job in January, 2006.

At present, 70 to 80 mmcfd (million million cubic feet per day) gas is being supplied to the national grid from two wells, MB No 2 and MB No 3. Even at times, the supply goes upto 100 mmcfd. The wells were put into production in April this year.

Work of laying the gathering line upto the gas processing plant from two wells-- MB No 4 and MB No 5 -- would take 3 to 4 weeks more, the official added.

Last year, the Forest Department raised objection against the project, construction of road and laying of gathering line through Lawachara national park and reserved forests at Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district.

When the Forest Department asked the Unocal to change the track for the purpose, work on the project was suspended for several months.

Finally, the Ministry of Forest and Environment bowed to the demand of the oil giant and allowed it to construct a 3.2 kilometre road and set up pipeline through Lawachara National Park.

Unocal officials, however, assured the government to take special care in laying the pipeline through the forests, said a forest department official.

MB No 4 and MB No 5 were drilled a few months ago near the existing two wells MB No 2 and MB No 3 in Moulvibazar Gas Field.

The wells were developed by another US company, Occidental. The company left Bangladesh handing over business to Unocal in late 1999.