KARACHI: Oil production went up three per cent in the first 11 months of 2016-17 to 88,022 barrels per day (bpd) while gas production remained almost static at 3.901 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd).

Oil production by Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan Oilfields (POL) and Pakistan Petroleum (PPL) rose nine per cent, 10pc and 11pc to 44,441bpd, 6,885bpd and 15,733bpd, respectively.

However, oil production fell by 1pc in May to 81,570bpd due to the temporary shutdown of the Nashpa field, which accounts for 26pc of Pakistan’s total oil production, for about two weeks. The field has now resumed normal operations, said Nabeel Khurshid, analyst at Topline Securities.

Gas production in May was down 2pc to 3,828mmcfd on an annual basis. On a monthly basis, however, it was up 2pc.

This was supported by improved flows from Kunnar Pasaki Deep (KPD) and Mari fields, which were up 18pc and 13pc, respectively, on a monthly basis.

POL recorded the double-digit growth of 12pc mainly due to 900bpd addition from Mardankhel during May. OGDC’s production was marginally up.

Although production from the KPD field, which is wholly owned by OGDC, was up 58pc to 2,700bpd, the temporary shutdown of the Nashpa field in May affected production by 2,000bpd. OGDC holds a 56pc stake in the Nashpa field. The same shutdown also affected the production of PPL as it holds a 26pc stake in the field.

OGDC’s gas production remained flat in May on the back of lower flow from Qadirpur and Loti, which offset the impact of 50mmcfd – 4.5pc of gas production – of additional flow from KPD.

POL’s gas production grew 17pc year-on-year primarily due to 11mmcfd – 15pc of gas production – of average gas addition from Mardankhel. Improved flow from Adhi, Shahdadpur and Mardankhel – cumulative flow of 55mmcfd or 7pc of total gas production – lifted PPL’s gas production 2pc during May.

PPL’s production would have been more pronounced if there had not been a decline of 24mmcfd from the Kandhkot field.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2017