He was chairing a meeting on abandoned, marginal and flared gases, which was attended by Secretary Petroleum, managing directors of the OGDCL and the PPL, Additional Secretary (Petroleum), Director General (Petroleum Concessions) and representatives of Pakistan Petroleum Exploration and Production Companies Association (PPEPCA).

Discussions were held on criteria, zonal distribution and pricing of gas from abandoned fields, marginal gases and flared gases.

Dr Asim Hussain directed that all-out efforts be made to prepare policy and guidelines for these gases so that additional gas was inserted into the system.

An expected 200 MMCFD gas is estimated to be added from these sources, he added.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Luiqi Ciarrocchi, Vice President (Asia Pacific) ENI S.P.A, Dr. Asim Hussain said that the new Petroleum and Exploration Policy 2012 provided investor friendly opportunities to foreign oil and gas companies.

Luiqi thanked the Advisor for facilitation provided by the ministry to the ENI regarding its operations in Pakistan.

The Advisor said that several exploration blocks had been offered and invited the ENI to participate in the bidding process.

The Advisor was informed that three Shale gas pilot projects were being planned and wells would be drilled within 2013.

The three projects would require approximately 1100 wells, compared to 1850 drilled in the whole country till date entailing an investment of $ 10 billion.