ISLAMABAD: Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) on Wednesday declared a new gas discovery in Ghotki.

In a statement, the company said it “made a significant gas discovery under new exploratory efforts at Shaheen-1 exploration well, drilled in Mari development and production (D&P) lease area, located in District Ghotki, Sindh province”.

MPCL is the sole operator of Mari D&P lease area. The said well was spudded on Jan 5 and has been successfully drilled down to the depth of 1,175 metres into Sui Main Limestone formation.

The well was drilled with the objective to test the hydrocarbon potential of Sui Main Limestone (SML) and Sui Upper Limestone (SUL). The drill stem tests carried out in SML and SUL formations flowed gas at a combined rate of 12.334 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) at wellhead flowing pressure of 1,045 per square inch (psi) at 48/64-inch choke size subsequent to acid job.

Chief executive of the company Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad said that seismic data has also identified additional new prospects at different reservoir levels, which the company planned to drill in the next two to three years to chase significant additional hydrocarbons in the area.

The company said it was the second consecutive discovery achieved from the results of its acquired extensive 3D seismic data in the Mari D&P lease area.

MPCL operates three D&P leases, eight exploration licences and has joint venture interest share in five other exploration blocks.

The company said it will continue to find additional hydrocarbons in the country so that the ever-increasing energy requirements can be met through local resources.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2017