PPL strikes new gas reserve in Kashmore

KARACHI: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has made a groundbreaking discovery at its LAL X-1 exploratory well in Kashmore, Sindh, marking a significant step into the country’s unconventional gas sector.

While the well’s initial flow rate of 0.138 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) may seem modest, industry analysts say the find is a major technical achievement. For the first time, hydrocarbons have been successfully extracted from the Lower Alabaster Formation, a geological layer previously considered too challenging to exploit in the region.

Unlike conventional gas reservoirs, where hydrocarbons flow freely through porous rock, the LAL X-1 well tapped tight limestone and shale formations. Drilled to a depth of 1,408 meters after spudding on June 30, 2025, the well demonstrated a steady gas flow with a wellhead pressure of 33 psig on a 64/64-inch choke, confirming that the resource is technically recoverable.

Extracting gas from such formations typically requires advanced methods, including hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, highlighting PPL’s growing technical capabilities in unconventional energy development.

Pakistan is currently facing a widening gap between gas supply and demand, with industrial output in key cities like Hyderabad and Karachi reportedly falling by 30 percent to 40 percent due to low gas pressure and high tariffs. The LAL X-1 discovery, alongside PPL’s recent Sawan North Deep-1 find in Khairpur, signals a potential pivot toward domestic gas production as a buffer against costly imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

“If the Lower Alabaster Formation proves commercially viable, it could pave the way for a cluster of new wells, providing a steady stream of local fuel to the national grid,” said an industry source.

PPL holds a 100 percent working interest in the Kandhkot lease, meaning all revenue from the well will remain with the company, potentially strengthening its financial position.

However, the company cautioned that commercial production is not immediate. “The commerciality will be ascertained based on post-well analysis and the results of future exploration wells for the Lower Alabaster Play,” PPL stated.

Next steps will include assessing total reserves and determining whether the cost of advanced extraction technology can be justified by recoverable gas volumes. If successful, Kashmore could emerge as a new hub for unconventional energy in Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025