OMV finds gas, condensate in Mehar block

18mmscfd of gas, 1,550 barrels of condensate flow during testing.

KARACHI:

OMV, an integrated, international oil and gas company, has announced that it has discovered gas and condensate in Sofiya-2 exploration well in the Mehar exploration licence.

The presence of hydrocarbons was proved through wire line logging and testing operations.

During testing, 18 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and 1,550 barrels of condensate (gross 4,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day) flowed from the Ranikot formation. Further appraisal work will be required to confirm the size of the discovery, said OMV in a press release.

Sofiya-2 exploration well is located in the Mehar exploration licence in Sindh, around 10 km north of Mehar gas and condensate field.

OMV Maurice Energy Limited holds a 75% share in the exploration licence. Its joint venture partners are Government Holding Private Limited (5%), Ocean Pakistan Limited (15%) and Zaver Petroleum Company (5%).

OMV said the new discovery’s proximity to the Mehar field provided the opportunity of using the Mehar gas and condensate plant for processing. The development of Mehar field is in its mechanical completion phase and production is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Jaap Huijskes, OMV Executive Board member responsible for exploration and production, said: “We are very pleased with this result. It provides the opportunity to utilise the Mehar gas plant for processing of Sofiya gas and condensate, which should enable cost-effective and accelerated development of this new discovery. The discovery adds value to the Petronas acquisition in 2011, which is an important part of our growth strategy in Pakistan.”

OMV (Pakistan) Exploration, a wholly owned subsidiary of OMV Aktiengesellschaft of Austria, started exploration activities in Pakistan in 1991.

The first significant gas discovery was made at Miano in Sukkur district in eastern Sindh in 1993, followed by Sawan discovery in 1997. Further discoveries in Latif and Tajjal gas fields were made in 2007.

In 2011, OMV Maurice Energy Limited acquired Petronas Carigali Pakistan Limited, which provided access to additional fields – Mehar, Rehmat and Saqib – and exploration blocks. At present, OMV holds interest in eight exploration blocks in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2013.

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