The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) is making significant progress in developing Pakistan’s unconventional hydrocarbon resources, in alignment with the government’s new Tight Gas Policy 2024, according to a recent press release.

OGDCL has already achieved a milestone with the successful production from its first tight gas well, Nur West-1, and plans to continue with additional wells using in-house expertise for hydraulic fracturing. The company has initiated a comprehensive study to evaluate tight gas prospectivity in key areas of the Lower Indus Basin in Sindh.

To support this initiative, OGDCL announced an international tender on March 7, 2024, for an Integrated Study of Tight Gas Prospectivity Evaluation. After a rigorous two-stage evaluation process involving 11 international bidders and 7 shortlisted companies, Schlumberger (M/s SLB) was selected as the preferred contractor. This study will be crucial in identifying the most promising tight gas areas and wells, shaping OGDCL’s future drilling and production strategies.

The study aims to pinpoint optimal locations for new wells and re-entry opportunities for existing wells to conduct hydraulic fracturing and unlock gas from tight reservoirs. This will enable OGDCL to commercialize tight gas resources on a fast-track basis.

OGDCL’s partnership with Schlumberger is expected to bring valuable expertise and innovation to Pakistan’s tight gas sector, ensuring the sustainable and efficient exploitation of the country’s hydrocarbon resources.

Preliminary data and regional studies estimate that Pakistan’s total prospective tight gas resource is 25.2 trillion cubic feet (TCF). OGDCL plans to execute 25 wells, with an initial production potential of 60-75 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) and an estimated reserve of 75-90 billion cubic feet (BCF) over the next five years.