In 1952 the very first year of the commencement of its business, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd, achieved a major breakthrough. A discovery of huge natural gas field near the present day town, Sui, in the province of Balochistan.
Sui gas field is located in Bugti tribal territory of Balochistan about 650 km north of Karachi. Drilling at Sui well No 1 commenced on 10th October, 1951, by the Burmah Oil Co (Pakistan Concessions) Ltd. Natural gas was encountered at a depth of around 4,000 feet. However, in search of oil, drilling was continued to a final depth of 10,049 feet. About that time PPL had come into existence. The company and the nation had found the seventh largest gas field in the world and the biggest in Pakistan at that time.
Commercial exploitation of the field began in 1955, much before than anywhere else in the subcontinent. Such then the Sui Field has been meeting a significant amount of the Pakistan's energy requirement.
The Sui gas discovered in 1952 is today, the second name of natural gas. The gas reserves discovered in Sui, were to the tune of 9.625 trillion cubic feet. This being the biggest gas reserve in Pakistan is a real asset for the economic development of the country. The Sui gas Field is still the single largest gas field in Pakistan.
Today the Sui gas field produces around 700 MMscf of natural gas daily from 88 wells completed during 53 years of production. It is not only the pioneer gas producing field, it is indeed the biggest. The quantum of natural gas production from Sui gas field is a vital source of huge foreign exchange savings for the country as the same would have been spent on the import of energy had the gas reserves, in abundance, not been discovered.
EXPLORATION:
PPL started with great pace to explore the untapped an abundant energy resources. The saga of drilling operations which commenced in 1952 from Sui, continues today in the year 2005. the Sui deep well was drilled down to 4,713 meters and gas was discovered in Pad sandstone formation in 1999.
SUI FIELD GAS COMPRESSOR STATION
There were times when the gas with natural pressure of gas at 80 bars could have been produced and supplied. But as the consumption of natural gas increased manifold the pressure has gradually depleted to a level of 30 bars. In order to fulfill the commitment of required gas pressure, PPL installed a most sophisticated state of the art compressor station costing the company millions of dollars and a number of years hard labour.
Today in the year 2005 the Sui field gas compressor station stands tall and works at 99.9 percent efficiency level. Installation of the compressor station in Sui is another milestone for PPL as it feels proud to have been introduced the most modern technology in the oil and gas industry of Pakistan.
SUI GAS PURIFICATION PLANT:
The Gas Purification Plant (Plant) at Sui was operated by Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) to purify gas produced from Sui gas field. Consequent to the GOPs decision to transfer the Plant owned jointly by SSGCL and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to PPL, an asset sale agreement was signed between SSGCL, SNGPL and the company on 1 July, 2002, whereby PPL acquired the Sui gas purification plant, Sui joint services assets and other related assets from SSGCL and SNGPL.
SOCIAL UPLIFT AND WELFARE WORK:
PPL has always carried out the human welfare projects as a social responsibility. Service to the people living on the land we operate has remained our motto at the Sui gas field. The Sui model school where about 2500 students have enrolled, offers education up to higher secondary level at a very nominal fee.
The Sui hospital, equipped with modern facilities such as Casualty Ward, Children's Ward, X-Ray and laboratory, Surgical unit, Blood bank, etc, and a dispensary just outside the company premises plus a mobile dispensary provide free medical treatment to all and sundry. The general population in Sui is also supplied with about 1.5 million gallons of water per day from the Company's water supply source located at about 50 km near Guddu.
The Sui shopping center run by the company on no profit no loss basis offers the commodities of domestic use at subsidised rates. PPL has constructed a metallic airstrip with an impressive terminal building to ensure uninterrupted PIA and other flight operations at Sui. The company has constructed a number of roads providing the commuters convenient access to different areas of Sui town.