The country’s largest exploration company, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited’s (OGDCL) has witnessed declining production from its mature oil fields, necessitating tangible measures to explore further hydrocarbon resources for meeting growing energy needs.
“The crude oil production during July 2010-March 2011 has been marginally lower compared with the corresponding period of the last year, crude oil in nine months-2009-10 was 38,610 barrels per day (BPD) but in corresponding period in 2010-11, 37,302 barrels were produced per day,” the company’s official report states.
It is also indicated that crude oil production from the company’s own and operated joint venture fields decreased by 4.9 percent mainly due to the production from Kunnar, Pasakhi, Bobi, Tando Aslam and Sono on account of natural depletion of reserves and from Chanda and Mela on account of short lifting of crude oil after devastating floods damaged the local road network.
While gas production has appreciably increased by 2.8 per cent, the official report stresses that the increase was due to the commencement of production from the new fields including Bahu, Pakhro, Sheikhan and Nashpha coupled with increase in share of gas production from non-operated joint venture fields.
According to the report, the company could not start operations in 10 exploration blocks due to non-availability of security clearance and security cover from the concerned agencies. Regarding exploration and development activities of the company, the report says 26 new well locations were marked on ground during the first nine months. Of these, the source says, 11 wells including four exploratory or appraisal and seven development wells were dug.
In addition, drilling of 15 ongoing wells from pervious financial year also remained underway. The report adds the OGDCL continued to expedite development efforts and complete on-going crucial projects including Dakhni expansion, Sinjhoro, Jhal Magsi, Kunnar Pasakhi Deep-Tando Allah Yar and Uch-11.
