KOHAT (December 14 2006): Huge quantity of oil and natural gas has been discovered in Adam Banda, Hangu district, sources confided to NNI correspondent here on Wednesday. Adam Banda, a remote area of southern district Hangu, NWFP, is located some 94 km towards south west of Kohat near Gurguri Oil field.

It is worth mentioning here that "MOL, Pakistan Oil and Gas Company" as investor and operator has been busy in exploration of oil and gas in the 'Thall Block' comprising three districts Kohat, Karak and Hangu for many years.

The MOL has been successfully completed its deep drilling at Manzali Well 1 at Gurguri, some 86 km away from here towards south-west where huge quantity of 1 trillion cubic feet natural gas was discovered besides sufficient quantity of oil in December 2002.

MOL has then successfully drilled two more wells at Makori and Manzali 2 at Sam Banda in Banda Daud Shah Tehsil of district Karak respectively where huge quantity of natural gas and crude oil has been discovered some time ago.

Some four wells have also been completed at Shakardarra, a remote area of Kohat district where sufficient quantity of oil and gas has discovered by OGDC. Production from 2 of its wells has also been started.

The sources further said that work on further exploration of oil and gas is in progress as two more wells are being drilled at Bakha Banda in Banda Daud Shah Tehsil (Karak) and Hoti Banda (Kohat).

According to sources, huge quantity of natural gas and oil has been discovered recently in Hangu district at Adam Banda (known as Manzali Well-3). Although the exact quantity of oil and gas has not yet measured, said the sources, adding that it is under testing. They added it is another success, by the MOL, oil and gas exploring company in the southern districts of the province.

Copyright News Network International, 2006