Eni discovers new onshore gas field

Estimated size of the reserve is 300 billion cubic feet of gas.


Our Correspondent September 20, 2012

ISLAMABAD: Amid a looming energy crisis, there is good news of discovery of gas in Sindh.

Premier Oil – a UK-listed oil and gas company – said on Wednesday, noting an announcement by Eni Pakistan, that a significant gas discovery was made in the Kirthar fold belt onshore Pakistan through the Badhra B North-1 well (Badhra-7), located on Badhra Lease Area B, in which Premier Oil has a 6% working interest.

This field is located in Dadu district of Sindh.

According to a statement issued by Premier Oil, the Badhra B North-1 well was drilled to a total depth of 2,450 metres. The well encountered over 54 metres of net gas pay in two thick cretaceous sandstones of the Mughal Kot Formation. During the production test, the well flowed high quality gas from the two reservoirs at 25 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) and 35 mmscfd. The size of the discovery is currently estimated at between 300 and 400 billion cubic feet of gas in place and its delineation will require further appraisal wells. Since Pakistan’s daily demand for gas is six billion cubic feet per day (cbfd) the gas from the well will only be able to last for a meagre 50 days – not such a landmark discovery considering the fact that Sui Gas field presently has 2 trillion cubic feet of reserves and the field has been active and in operation from 1955.

The discovery is located approximately 20 kilometres east of the Bhit gas processing facility, operated by Eni, which handles the gas production from the Bhit and Badhra fields. Eni has commenced discussions with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and the joint venture partners to expedite production from the discovery through a long-term production test that will allow for the commercialisation of the gas. Production will be routed to nearby gas processing facilities of the Bhit field.

An official of Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) said that the company held 20% share in Badhra field. He said that Eni owned a 40% stake in the field and was also the operator. Other joint venture partners are Kirthar Pakistan BV – a Royal Dutch / Shell company – and Premier Kufpec Pakistan.

“It is good news that new gas discovery has been made,” Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Managing Director Azeem Iqbal Siddiqui said. He maintained that SSGC was receiving 32 mmcfd of gas from Badhra field for the last three years.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2012.

 

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