Pakistani Exploration Well Fails to Deliver
An exploration well drilled by Pakistan's state-owned Oil and Gas Development Co (OGDCL) in the country's east has failed to make a commercial gas find, Canadian project partner Jura Energy reported on August 20.
The Umair NW-1 well was drilled to a depth of 804 metres at the Guddu block straddling Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh provinces. Based on hydrogen shows during drilling, log results and interpretations, it was concluded that gas accumulations were present in the targeted Pirhoh and Habib Rahi limestone formations of the Eocene age, Jura said. But testing did not yield commercial quantities of gas.
"Consequently, the well is plugged and abandoned," the company said.
OGDCL operates the 2,093-km2 Guddu block with a 70% interest, while Jura has 13.5%. The other shareholders are IPR Transoil with 11.5% and Government Holdings Private with 5%. The group made a gas discovery at the site in 2018.
Pakistan is looking for more gas to develop so it can overcome problems with energy security, while also expanding its LNG imports.