OMV Pakistan has been active in Pakistan as an operator and partner since 1991, and has emerged as the largest foreign gas operator in the country. Its first major breakthrough in 1993 was the discovery of a natural gas reservoir called "Miano" in the Thar Desert, District Sukkur.
Full production commenced in the year 2002, when the processing plant in Kadanwari was upgraded. In January 2003, OMV Pakistan successfully took charge of the Kadanwari plant operation and is currently processing sales gas at approximately 125 MMscf/d from five Miano and seven Kadanwari wells.
The Sawan gas field, in district Khairpur was discovered in 1998. The Sawan gas Plant commissioned in June 2003 is the second operatorship of OMV and is exporting sales gas of ~390 MMscf/d from nine wells to Pakistan's largest gas transmission and distribution companies vis. SSGCL and SNPGL.
As the operator of the Sawan and Miano gas fields, the Kadanwari processing facilities, and Sawan Gas Plant, OMV is now responsible for operating more than 100,000 boe/d (6.0 bn m_/year) covering approximately 15% of Pakistan's demand for natural gas. OMV Pakistan currently holds interests in four exploration blocks, of which three (South West Miano II, Gambat and Latif) are operated by OMV and one (Zamurdan) a non-operating interest.
The company's recent discoveries in 2007 in its exploration licenses Latif and Gambat blocks in Sindh Province has opened the potential for further discoveries in the vicinity.
OMV Pakistan is very conscious of its adherence to its outlined policies, HSEQ standards and most importantly, the local laws and works hard to address economic, environmental and social issues related to its area of operations. Our Health, Safety and Environmental standards are parallel to the highest international level and second to none in the local perspective. The Community Development Program (CDP) aims for sustainable developments in its concession areas ensuring the maximum involvement and ownership of the local community. Behind OMV Pakistan's success story are people who get things moving, taking responsibility and thus opening the way for further dynamic business development, led by it's General Manager Dr Georg Wachtel.
(The writer is General Manager OMV Pakistan.)