ISLAMABAD, March 9: The government on Tuesday granted two petroleum exploration licences to Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) over Block Nos. 2766-1 (Khuzdar) and 2568-13 (Hala) covering an area of 2498.87 and 394.57 square kilometres respectively.

The licences and the petroleum concession agreements were signed by secretary, Petroleum and Natural Resources, M. Abdullah Yusuf, on behalf of the President, director-general, Petroleum Concessions, GA Sabri and Managing Director, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, S. Munsif Raza.

According to details, the first area lies in district Khuzdar of Balochistan province, whereas Hala area falls in districts Hyderabad and Sanghar of Sindh province.

The PPL intends to make an investment of over $1.5 million in Khuzdar block to purchase satellite imagery and other data, G&G studies, geological fieldwork mapping, source ad reservoir rock analyses, gravity survey, microscope survey and 2D seismic.

Whereas in Hala block, PPL will invest US $ 9.18 million for data purchase, G&G studies, 2D & 3D seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation and drill an exploratory well upto 3500 m or 20 m inside Sambar formation.

The company has been involved in petroleum exploration and production in the country for over half a century and has discovered several gas and oil fields. It has extensive geological and geophysical knowledge, data and experience in exploration and field development.

The company is the producer of gas from Sui, Mazarani and Kandkot Mining Leases and Gas, oil and LPG from Adhi ML. The company is a working interest owner and operator of Block 3371-7 (Jhamat), Block 2462-1 (Pasni), Block 2462-4 (Offshore Makran Central), Block 3372-12 (Kot Sarang), 2867-3 (Dadhar), 2966-1 (Nushki) exploration licences.

It also holds non-operating working interests in Qadirpur, Miano, Sawan, Hasan, Sadiq and Khanpur D&Pls, Block 2768-3 (Block-22), Block 3370-3 (Tal), Block 2668-4 (Gambat), Block 2668-5 (S.W. Miano-II) 3370- 10 (Nashpa), 2669-3 and (Latif) Exploration Licences.

Additionally, Company holds Baryte and iron Mining Leases near Khuzdar and Dilband respectively in Balochistan province. PPL has current production of around 870 million cubic feet per day of gas, 4648 of oil per day and 68 tons LPG per day. -APP