ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Development Corporation has discovered oil in quantity at Tut in Cambellpur district, about 75 miles west of Rawalpindi. This has come only three weeks after a similar discovery at Kot Sarang where testing of the first zone has been done and that of other zones will be undertaken shortly.

Production testing of Tut Well No. 1 started yielding oil on Feb 16 at the rate of 1,000 to 1,400 barrels per day, from a depth of 4,465 metres (14,645 feet). The source rock is the Jurassic sandstone.

The oil is flowing under high pressure and a substantial quantity of gas is associated with it. Testing of the well is in progress and final details would not be available for some time.

According to initial samples, however, the oil is of the light variety, with a gravity of about 40 API. This well has the significance of being the deepest oil producer in Pakistan. It was drilled under very difficult sub-surface conditions that were successfully overcome.

In view of the bright prospects of this structure it was decided earlier to drill more wells at Tut. Well No. 2 is being spudded in today [Feb 17]. Arrangements for commercial utilisation of production from both Kot Sarang and Tut are also being worked out.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2018