Company digging for water finds gas

It was like striking gold when a company prospecting for freshwater spuded a gas reserve.

TPL Properties has reported the discovery of a gas pocket while drilling a test well for water exploration in Korangi Creek.

FIn a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the company stated that preliminary technical assessments, along with independent evaluations from industry experts, suggest the gas is likely low biogenic methane—naturally produced through the decomposition of organic matter.

As the location is not part of a recognized natural gas reservoir, the company noted that the gas pocket is expected to dissipate naturally over time if the fire is allowed to burn. The discovery was made as part of a series of extensive studies conducted in collaboration with leading national and international consulting firms. These studies included geotechnical analyses, soil structure and contamination assessments, electrical resistivity (ER) surveys, a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and other baseline evaluations.

Following the incident on the night of Friday, March 28, 2025, TPL Properties has taken all necessary measures to manage the situation and has informed the relevant stakeholders accordingly.

Large reserves in Korangi Creek

Earlier a geologist talking to The Express Tribune had expressed the possibility of large underground gas reserves in the Korangi Creek area, urging the need to extinguish the fire that has been burning for five days and initiate gas exploration activities at the site.

Associate Professor at the University of Karachi's Department of Geology, Dr Adnan Khan, told The Express Tribune that 56-year data from wells drilled in the Indus Delta region for oil and gas exploration, points to the potential presence of methane gas at the site where water boring led to gas emission and the outbreak of fire. He added that there is also a possibility of coal deposits at the site.