KARACHI: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has announced a gas and condensate discovery from its operated exploratory well Dolphin X-1 in the Sirani Block, District Sujawal, Sindh, describing it as the first hydrocarbon discovery from the Jurassic-age Chiltan Formation in the Lower Indus Basin.
According to PPL, the discovery has established a new hydrocarbon play in an area previously considered challenging for exploration because of its marshy terrain and geographical location.
PPL said the discovery also indicates the potential for extending the newly identified exploration play from the onshore marshy area towards shallow offshore areas, which could enhance the prospectivity of Pakistan’s shallow offshore region.
The company said it was the first exploration and production company to overcome the difficult terrain in the area and deploy specialised transition equipment for acquiring 2D and 3D seismic data. The seismic work enabled the company to evaluate the previously unexplored frontier area and identify its hydrocarbon potential.
Dolphin X-1 was spudded on April 17, 2026, and drilled to a measured depth of 3,850 metres to test the hydrocarbon potential of the Chiltan Formation. PPL said drilling results and wireline log data identified a hydrocarbon-bearing zone.
During testing, the Chiltan Formation flowed gas with a heating value of approximately 1,000 British thermal units per standard cubic foot (Btu/scf). The well produced gas at a rate of 0.942 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) at a wellhead flowing pressure of 211 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) through a 32/64-inch choke.
PPL operates the Sirani Block with a 75 percent working interest, while Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) holds the remaining 25 percent working interest.
The company said the well was drilled and tested using indigenous expertise and that the discovery had established a new hydrocarbon play within the Chiltan Limestone.
PPL also acknowledged the support provided by the Pakistan Navy during the project, saying its assistance contributed to the successful execution of exploration activities in the challenging area.
However, the company cautioned that preliminary geological, geophysical and engineering test results indicate that the reservoir has a tight nature. PPL said this assessment would require further confirmation through detailed evaluation of geological and geophysical data and reservoir-engineering information collected during drilling and testing.
The discovery marks a significant exploration development for PPL as it seeks to evaluate hydrocarbon potential in a previously unexplored geological setting, although the company has not provided an estimate of recoverable reserves or commercial production potential at this stage.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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