In October 2013 – after an execution phase of only one year – OMV completed the development of the Latif gas field, located in the Sindh province. OMV is the operator of the Latif concession and holds an interest of 33.34 per cent. The gas field developments will double OMV’s net production from Latif to 6,200 boe/d in 2014.
In November 2013, OMV started commissioning the Mehar field gas condensate processing facilities located in the very west of Sindh close to the border with Balochistan. OMV is the operator of the Mehar concession and holds an interest of 59.2 per cent. Mehar (phase 1) full production will come on stream by year-end 2013 and deliver production of 4,300 boe/d net to OMV in 2014.
The Latif gas field was discovered by OMV in 2007 and started production under extended well testing arrangements in late 2008. It is located next to the major OMV operated gas plants in Kadanwari and Sawan. Following the approval of the field development plan in June 2012, the Latif field was fully developed with the drilling and completion of four new wells, construction of a new ~50 km gas pipeline to connect Latif field with Sawan plant and reception and metering facilities at Sawan.
The Latif field development decision, stalled for some time, was declared economically feasible due to the new 2012 Petroleum Policy of Pakistan (effective September 2012). This policy provides higher prices for new discoveries and for investments leading to incremental production over and above the reserves approved and certified. OMV operates Latif joint venture with the partners ENI and PPL having 33.33 per cent stakes each. Gas is being supplied equally to the domestic gas distribution companies SSGCL and SNGPL.