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New Gas Reserves Discovered in Sindh

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Pakistan made two key oil and gas discoveries in the third quarter and another three discoveries in the fourth quarter of 2017. These discoveries may have prompted the US-based Exxon-Mobil to join off-shore drilling efforts in Pakistan. American energy giants entry in Pakistan brings advanced deep sea drilling technology, its long experience in offshore exploration and production and its deep pockets to the country. US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that Pakistan has technically recoverable deposits of 105 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas and 9.1 billion barrels of oil. Exxon-Mobil is expected to accelerate exploration and lead to more discoveries and increased domestic oil and gas production.

Top Countries Discovering Oil and Gas

Russia led with 10 discoveries, followed by Australia with seven discoveries and Colombia with four discoveries. Pakistan and the UK each had three discoveries in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to Global Oil and Gas Discoveries Review.

In fourth quarter of 2017, the Former Soviet Union leads with 12 discoveries, followed by Asia with eight discoveries, and Oceania with seven discoveries. Europe and South America had five discoveries each, followed by North America with two discoveries, while the Middle East and Africa had one discovery each in the quarter, according to Offshore Technology website.

Exxon-Mobils Entry in Pakistan

American energy giant Exxon-Mobil has joined the offshore oil and gas exploration efforts started by Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Italian energy giant ENI, according to media reports.

Each company will have 25% stake in the joint venture under an agreement signed at the Prime Ministers Secretariat in May among ExxonMobil, Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL), PPL, ENI and OGDC.

Exxon-Mobiles entry in Pakistan brings deep offshore drilling technology, its long experience and financial resources to the country. It is expected to accelerate exploration and more discoveries.

Pakistan Oil Basins

A Pakistan Basin Study conducted in 2009 found that the country has six onshore and two offshore basins; offshore basins being the Indus basin and the Makran basin in the Arabian Sea.

The Indus offshore basin is a rift basin that geologists say developed after the separation of the Indian Plate from Africa in the late Jurassic period. It is believed to be the second largest submarine fan system in the world after the Bay of Bengal with high probability of hydrocarbon discoveries.

The Makran Offshore basin is separated from the Indus Offshore basin by Murray ridge, according to Syed Mustafa Amjads report in Dawn. It is an oceanic and continental crust subduction zone with deepwater trenches and volcanic activity. The basin consists of oceanic crust and periodic emergence of temporary mud islands along the coast suggesting strong evidence of large hydrocarbon deposits.

Pakistan Hydrocarbon Potential:

The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that Pakistan has 586 TCF (trillion cubic feet) of gas in Pakistan of which 105 TCF is technically recoverable.

In addition to gas deposits, US EIA estimates there are 227 billion barrels of oil in Pakistan with 9.1 billion barrels being technically recoverable.

Pakistan also has 185 billion tons of coal deposits in Thar desert which are just beginning to be extracted by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Corporation.

Oil and Gas exploration and production companies are currently planning to drill 90 wells in different parts of the country. Under the plan, as many as 50 exploratory and 40 development wells would be drilled in a bid to make the country self-sufficient in the energy sector, according to media reports.

During the last five years, the sources said the exploration and production companies drilled 445 new wells, out of which 221 were exploratory, adding that the increased exploration activities resulted in 116 new oil and gas discoveries.

Current Account Deficits

Energy imports make up a big chunk of Pakistans total imports. Rising oil prices worsen the current account deficit and put pressure on Pakistans reserves, forcing the country to seek periodic IMF bailouts. Pakistans current account deficit has jumped by 50% to a record high of $14.03 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2018, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. The country imported $12 billion worth of energy in 2017. The bill is likely to grow with increasing demand and rising prices in 2018.

Reducing energy imports by increasing domestic production will likely ease Pakistans current account deficits and reduce its chances of going back to the IMF again and again.

http://m.4-traders.com/EXXON-MOBIL-...ies-to-discover-oil-and-gas-in-2017-26798198/
 
Until I see some tangible benefits, this is all probably pie in the sky as far as Pakistan making use of its resources is concerned.
 
Pakistan also has a huge coal reserve, the Thar coalfield. Is that being developed? There was a power plant being set up by Engro. Coal mining should reduce Pakistan's oil import bill and the power plant should reduce electricity shortage.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/32...company-unearths-first-layer-in-thar-block-ii

I've not heard of this particular coalfield but have heard that Pakistan does have large coal stocks and resources. In regards to your specific question, I highly doubt it.
 
I've not heard of this particular coalfield but have heard that Pakistan does have large coal stocks and resources. In regards to your specific question, I highly doubt it.

It is unclear exactly how large coal reserves of Pakistan are. According to the article I quoted earlier, and the Wiki article below, they are about 175 to 185 billion tons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_by_country

However Pakistan doesn't appear in the list of the ten largest countries in the following list.

https://www.mining-technology.com/features/feature-the-worlds-biggest-coal-reserves-by-country/

If that is true that Pakistan has 175 billion tons of reserves, then it would have the world's second largest reserves, second only to the US at 246 billion tons. Even if Pakistan has only half of one-third, it still has enough to free itself from oil imports.
 
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It is unclear exactly how large coal reserves of Pakistan are. According to the article I quoted earlier, and the Wiki article below, they are about 175 to 185 billion tons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_by_country

However Pakistan doesn't appear in the list of the ten largest countries in the following list.

https://www.mining-technology.com/features/feature-the-worlds-biggest-coal-reserves-by-country/

If that is true that Pakistan has 175 billion tons of reserves, then it would have the world's second largest reserves, second only to the US at 246 billion tons. Even if Pakistan has only half of one-third, it still has enough to free itself from oil imports.

Not sure about this, would need to be authenticated by an independent source. The sources you have provided are authoritative but the article is a bit stale now. However, this about Pakistan's very large coal resources at Thar is interesing.
 
Its a fine to find such large untapped natural resources.

The problem is digging the stuff out. At the moment Pakistan just does not have the expertise personnel and specialised equipment at present.

Let’s hope in the future that with the right economical conditions set in place that some of these big oil multi-national companies will be willing to invest because obviously it has to be economically viable for them as well.
 
Pakistan also has a huge coal reserve, the Thar coalfield. Is that being developed? There was a power plant being set up by Engro. Coal mining should reduce Pakistan's oil import bill and the power plant should reduce electricity shortage.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/32...company-unearths-first-layer-in-thar-block-ii

From what i know, the coal found in Thar is of lower quality and needs to be mixed with higher quality imported coal for electricity production. My knowledge might be out dated as i read that in my GCEs.
 
Its a fine to find such large untapped natural resources.

The problem is digging the stuff out. At the moment Pakistan just does not have the expertise personnel and specialised equipment at present.

Let’s hope in the future that with the right economical conditions set in place that some of these big oil multi-national companies will be willing to invest because obviously it has to be economically viable for them as well.

We should go the GCC route, let the Americans/Europeans dig out and give us the moolah.
 
NEW GAS RESERVES DISCOVERED IN SINDH

Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) has announced a gas discovery at an exploratory well Mari Ghazij-1, located in Mari Development and Production Lease (D&PL) in Sindh.

The well was spudded-in on November 24, 2022 and successfully drilled down to the depth of 1,015 meters. The gas flow rate established through Drill Stem Test is 5.1 Million Standard Cubic Feet Per Day (MMSCFD) with Wellhead Flowing Pressure (WHFP) of 232 Pounds Per Square Inch (Psi) at 64/64 inch choke size.

In a statement, the company said it plans to carefully appraise this discovery to prove its extent and, in parallel, evaluate its development options.

MPCL, an associated company of Fauji Foundation and one of the country’s leading oil and gas exploration entity, found the new reserves in an exploratory well that was spud-in on November 24, 2022.

This is the first Oil and Gas discovery of the current year 2023.

Last month, the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) had discovered new oil and gas reserves in Sindh and apprised the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) regarding the discovery in the Sanghar district.

The OGDCL started the exploration of the oil and gas reserves on June 26 this year.

ARY
 
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