Exploration firm targets major fields

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), the largest hydrocarbon explorer in Pakistan, has targeted 20 major fields, mainly in the north and south, to enhance production and contribute to overcoming the energy crisis in the country.

Owing to the rising demand for gas, Pakistan is relying more on the imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its share has swelled to 24% in the energy mix.

However, in many countries, the share of imported gas is only 6%, which serves as a stopgap arrangement. Pakistan’s increasing dependence on imported gas came in the face of low exploration activities at the domestic level.

Now, OGDCL has taken a giant step forward by embracing modern technologies to optimise the oil and gas production. This strategy has proved successful.

In this backdrop, according to industry officials, OGDCL is targeting its 20 major fields for ramping up hydrocarbon production. These comprise 14 oil fields namely Kunnar, Tando Alam, Pasakhi, Sono, Lashari Centre, Thora, Rajian, Kal Palli, Chak Naurang, Fim Kassar, Missa Keswal, Mela and Toot, and six gas and gas condensate fields namely Chanda, Nashpa, Qadirpur, Kunnar Pasakhi Deep – Tando Allah Yar, Sinjhoro and Bettani.

Under its ambitious plans, OGDCL foresees a significant increase in its current oil production from 34,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 50,000 bpd over the next three to four years through production optimisation efforts. To achieve this target, the company plans to shift more than 15 oil wells on to suitable artificial lift systems.

Moreover, three to five wells will be drilled to maintain the existing production and drain attic oil. Pressure maintenance projects have also been initiated and their execution will start from financial year 2024-25.

Separately, OGDCL is stepping up efforts to see a growth of up to 1.4 billion cubic feet (bcf) in its raw gas production over the next five to six years by tapping low British thermal unit (BTU) reserves, like Zin and Sara West, and the discoveries in high security risk areas such as Jandran, Laki Rud and Kalerishum.

It would also add to the output through fresh exploratory efforts during the given time frame, industry officials said.

Energy is the key to the country’s development. It drives industry, agriculture, transportation and is a basic requirement of every household. Power and energy deficit is one of the major national challenges that adversely impact economic growth in the country.

OGDCL, being the leading player in the exploration and production (E&P) sector, is exploring possibilities of contributing to the national growth and energy security through the search for more hydrocarbon reserves.

Over the last few years, OGDCL’s oil and gas production has been on the wane. It is, therefore, imperative that new state-of-the-art technologies and techniques are adopted and deployed to arrest the declining trend and optimise production on a fast track.

Keeping the current situation in view, the OGDCL management has constituted a working group comprising the petroleum industry professionals to identify, evaluate, propose and apply new technologies, techniques and systems. Its key objective is to increase hydrocarbon production from brownfield projects and initiate new schemes for sustaining the output.

The development and optimisation strategies envisaged by OGDCL include pressure maintenance (with water and gas injection), enhanced oil recovery through organic means, polymer injection and downhole heating, infill drilling, well intervention, well stimulation with new chemicals, artificial lift optimisation and surface network optimisation.

These technologies were already being used by E&P companies across the world, officials said, adding that some of those had already been adopted by OGDCL. Now, these are being modernised and installed on a fast-track basis.

At present, all E&P companies in Pakistan are facing the challenge of discovering large deposits of oil and gas and adding adequate new reserves to arrest the natural depletion of the existing fields.

OGDCL is increasingly focusing on long-term production enhancement through speedy completion of the ongoing development projects, which will further improve the country’s oil and gas production.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2024.

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