The Canadian company also reported the drilling site was “secure” and there have been no injuries related to the incident to report with no danger to the public.

The fire at Tengratila has already resulted in the evacuation of more than 10,000 people living in the surrounding area. The field is being jointly developed by Niko and the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Co Ltd.

In a press release, Niko stated it had engaged dwell service and control specialists Safety Boss Inc to “bring the well back under control” and that equipment was being mobilised to the site to “stop the uncontrolled flow of gas and resume drilling operations”.

Niko said “some of the equipment on site including the drilling rig has been damaged beyond repair”.

But the firm was confident the gas came from one of its “newly targeted gas reservoirs in the Chattak structure” and the incident, regrettable as it was, indicated the potential of the area for “commercial gas reserves” from the structure.

Niko also said it was confident “no significant damage will have occurred to this reservoir” and it expected drilling to resume on the original program in six to eight weeks once remedial operations were completed.