ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Petroleum Limited found one of the largest ever gasreserves in history of Pakistan.
Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has found huge gas reserves in Margandblock at Kalat, Balochistan. According to details, PPL owns 100% of thedrilling rights of the block and had been drilling at Margand X-1 blocksince 30 June 2019.
Last year, PPL carried out a Modular Dynamics Testing (MDT) at a depth of4,500 meters at the block. MDT proved the presence of large gas reserves.
PPL further conducted a Drill Stem Test (DST) which revealed that these gasreserves might potentially exceed 1 trillion cubic feet.
For comparison, Sui has estimated reserves of 2 trillion cubic feet with adaily output capacity of about 604 million cubic feet.
DST of only Margand X-1 suggests that the entire block has the potential tosupply 10.7 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) at a choke size of64/64 inches and flowing wellhead pressure of 516 pounds per square inch(psi).
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This is the first significant discovery of gas reserves in Balochistansince 2000. Companies such as British Petroleum, Petronas, and NikoResources had tried to tap unexplored reserves since then. However, allcompanies failed to discover reserves this large and pulled out of thecountry.
Furthermore, little to no attention was given during the tenures ofprevious successive governments to exploit the domestic wealth of mineralsand fulfill the energy needs of the country.
Instead, questionable contracts like rental power plants and LNG powerplants were signed, which the NAB has been investigating.
Pakistan can save more than $900 million on the import bill if Margand gasreserves replace LNG, which costs domestic consumers 100% more than Suigas, according to an ex-PPL board director.
