OGDCL poised to launch robust oil, gas production plan

ISLAMABAD: The top management of Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL) has carved out an aggressive exploration and production plan with focus on 10 unconventional wells of shale and tight gas.

The OGDCL will also increase exploration and production activities with more emphasis on conventional wells in existing gas fields. In addition, it will initiate E&P activities in Balochistan with a new vigor and special focus on the Zin block which holds confirmed reserves of 840billion cubic feet per day (bcfd).

Mentioning the unconventional pilot well of shale gas, a top official of the company told The News the OGDCL has gained remarkable achievement as it has found promising indications of the presence of heavy reservoirs of shale gas at the pilot well KUC-1, Hyderabad, Sindh. “Now we are going to initiate fracking the well horizontally for which OGDCL management has signed an agreement with Schlumberger, Pakistan.”

“We have also issued a tender seeking the services of international service providers for extracting shale gas. In addition, OGDCL management also sent its experts to China for interactions with Chinese counterparts which have successfully explored shale gas. The OGDCL experts are now back with the resolve to work with Chinese companies under the umbrella of CNPC—the main Chinese company. The Chinese companies have also shown keen interest in participating in shale gas discovery processes in Pakistan. Like the USA, China is also massively investing in exploring shale gas. We are now going to initiate 10 more wells for shale and tight gas.”

Sember Shale is considered as the richest source rock having good thickness, mainly found in the lower and middle Indus basin of Pakistan. OGDCL has commenced commercial production from its first-ever tight gas discovery at the Nur West-1 well, located in Sujawal, Sindh. In line with the Tight Gas Exploration & Production Policy 2024, OGDCL has successfully integrated Nur West-1 into production on a fast-track basis.

The OGDCL with Ahmad Hayat Lak as acting MD since 2023 launched the project of optimisation of the declining oil and gas fields and increased oil production by 4,000 BPD to 35,000 BPD and hiked 20 mmcfd gas. In addition, OGDCL in the last one and a half years’ time, made 7 oil and gas discoveries.

More importantly, a well in Khewari field, KP, which had been dormant since 2012 was not only made active but had also been monetised. The company also completed the Jhal Magsi project on time, with monetisation planned upon SSGC’s completion of the pipeline installation.