Pakistan is grappling with a concerning decline in natural gas production,witnessing an annual decrease of 8-9 percent. However, a glimmer of hopehas emerged as promising signs point towards the existence of substantialshale gas reservoirs. These optimistic findings stem from the KUC-1 pilotwell, located in Hyderabad, Sindh, a venture that was set in motion by theOil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in 2020.
According to a study conducted by USAID, Pakistan holds a staggeringpotential of over 3,000 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of shale gas resourcesspread across various shale horizons.
The exploration at KUC-1 has been marked by significant progress. Verticaldrilling revealed two layers of rock housing shale gas, with plans toextend this exploration to a third layer in the upcoming month. Initialdata analysis after fracking the first two layers has indicated thepresence of abundant shale gas. The next phase involves horizontaldrilling, which will reach depths of 1,500-2,000 meters within theexpansive 3,000-6,000-meter well.
Dr. M Saeed Khan Jadoon, an advisor to OGDCL specializing in oil and gasexploration and head of the shale gas division, shared these insights.OGDCL has already secured an agreement with Schlumberger, Pakistan, tofacilitate the fracking of both vertical and horizontal layers.
Read Top Stories
To bolster their expertise in shale gas exploration, OGDCL has intensifiedefforts in developing the skills of their human resources within the shalegas sector. As part of this initiative, team members have been sent toChina and the USA, ensuring they stay updated on the latest advancements inshale gas discovery techniques. This mirrors the substantial investmentsbeing made by both the USA and China in the exploration of shale gas.
Dr. Jadoon concluded by revealing that within three months, horizontaldrilling will commence at the pilot well, with a target completion date setfor August 2024. This ambitious endeavor could potentially transformPakistan’s energy landscape, mitigating the challenges posed by decliningnatural gas production.