By SKM
January 20
ISLAMABAD: State-run Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) has notched up another major oil and gas discovery, marking its third successful find in just one month and delivering a significant boost to Pakistan’s domestic energy production.
The latest discovery was made at the Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploratory well in the Nashpa Exploration License area of Kohat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. OGDC said testing in the Samana Suk and Shinawari formations confirmed production of 3,100 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) along with 8.15 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas.
The well flowed during a Cased Hole Drill Stem Test (CHDST-03) through a 32/64-inch choke at a wellhead flowing pressure of 3,010 PSIG, underscoring the commercial potential of the discovery.
With this latest addition, OGDC has brought 9,480 BOPD online within a single month—equivalent to around 14.5 percent of Pakistan’s current domestic crude oil production, an unusually strong performance amid the country’s ongoing energy challenges.
Baragzai X-01 (Slant) was spudded on December 30, 2024, to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of multiple formations, including Lockhart, Hangu, Lumshiwal, Samana Suk, Shinawari, Datta and Kingriali. The well was drilled to a total depth of 5,170 metres, with earlier tests in the Kingriali and Datta formations also yielding oil and gas discoveries.
OGDC said the successive discoveries would help ease the energy supply–demand gap, strengthen indigenous production, and expand the country’s hydrocarbon reserves. The company reaffirmed its commitment to fast-tracking exploration efforts and responsibly developing domestic resources to support national energy security and economic growth. Ends
