ISLAMABAD, March 28: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), as an operator in a joint venture, has made yet another landmark achievement in enhancing the oil and gas production through its Chak 63 Well # 01 located in District Sanghar, Sindh.

According to a press release, the joint venture is comprised of OGDCL, OPI and government holdings. This well will save $13 million per annum precious foreign exchange. The well is located about 10-km north west of Chak-5 Dim. Sanghar is the nearest town, which is about 20-km south east of the location.

In a special message, Usman Aminuddin, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, has lauded this commendable achievement of OGDCL and greeted its officers and staff who made this major discovery possible through indigenous efforts.

He reiterated the need for a dynamic and progressive approach to enhance exploration activity.

Having commenced the in-house geological and geophysical studies utilizing OGDCL expertise in May 2001, an exploration prospect Chak 63 was delineated and recommended for drilling in December 2001.

Following necessary approvals the well has been drilled down to its target depth of 3,000 metres. Based on logs, geological and drilling data, the production testing was started on March 21, 2002.

The main objective was to test the Basal Sands of Lower Goru Formation of Cretaceous age. However, the test has been carried out in the Massive Sands of the Lower Goru Formation. The massive Sands proved to be productive.

Initial short duration test in the Massive Sand on 1/2’ choke size has produced 2,000 bpd having an API gravity of 41 degree, an excellent crude quality, with 4 mmcfd of gas at wellhead flowing pressure of 1700 PSI.