E&P companies drilled 319 new wells, made 91 finds

ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Exploration and Production (E&P) companies operating in different parts of the country drilled 319 wells and made 91 finds during the last three years.

"In a period of three years, around 319 wells were drilled in different potential areas, out of which 148 were exploratory and 158 appraisal/developmental, that resulted in 91 discoveries," official sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources told APP.

During the years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16, the companies spud 51, 51 and 46 exploratory wells respectively, enabling the current government to add 944 mmcfd (million cubic feet per day) gas in the system, out of which 466 mmcfd came from new discoveries and 478 mmcfd gas from existing wells.

Besides, they said, there was an increase of 32,000 barrel per day in crude oil production.

"The drilling figure is 40 percent higher than the tenure of previous government," they added.

In 2015-16, the sources informed that 46 exploratory wells were drilled including five in Badin, one each in Barkhan, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Bugti, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Sukkur, Tando Allah Yar and Thatta, two each in Ghotki, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Mitiari, Rahimyar Khan, Sujawal, three in Khairpur, six in Tando M Khan and 11 in Sanghar.

While in the year 2014-15, the companies drilled 51 exploratory wells, out of which one each was in Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Sujawal, Rahimyar Khan, Jamshoro, Hangu, Chakwal and Attock, two each were in Dadu, Dera Bugti and Kohat, three each in Tando M Khan and Mianwali, four in Mitiari, seven in Sanghar, eight in Badin and nine in Tando A Yar.

During the year 2013-14, 51 exploratory wells were spud, out of which one each was in Rawalpindi, Mastung, Kohat and Barkhan, two each in Hyderabad, Naushahro Firoz and Thatta, three each in Tando M Khan, Tando A Yar and Mitiari, four in Khairpur, 10 in Sanghar and 14 in Badin, they said.

The sources said the discoveries made by E&P companies during the period showed increase in the success rate of drilling from 31 percent to 55 percent. "It means there is a find after every two drills."