The much-awaited Kunar Pushaki gas field is likely to become partially functional from January 12, Petroleum Ministry officials said. According to the Ministry sources, Prime Minister Gilani to inaugurate the Kunar Pushaki gas field on January 12 to get 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) gas, which would be equally distributed between Sui-Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Sui-Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
Total expected gas production of the field is 285 mmcfd, which would be fully operative in 2013. The gas production of the field would be equally distributed between SNGPL and SSGC. The Kunner-Pasakhi Deep and Tando Allahyar integrated project is expected to produce 285 mmcfd, 387 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 400 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 4,500 barrels of crude oil.
Sources further said that the government would also install four synthetic plants, two each in SNGPL and SSGCL, to add another 200mmcfd gas to the systems. A total 300mmcfd additional gas would be added to the system within next few weeks. According to officials, the government has in principle decided to increase subsidy on power, during last four years the government has paid nearly 1000 billion on account of subsidy to the power sector.
Although additional gas would ease crisis to some extent, still the current gas load-management programme would remain continued countrywide, as total gas supply is a little over 4 Billion Cubic Feet per Day (bcfd) against demand of 6bcfd. To alleviate sufferings of people, public sector gas utilities by taking into account the option of injection of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) into the system, have issued tender notice. SSGC plans the commencement of two LPG air mix plants and claims that both the plants would produce 50mmcfd gas each. The plants would be integrated with local LPG supply storage tanks and SSGC distribution network.
The company has also acquired LPG import terminal, storage and bottling facilities at Port Qasim and is considering retrofitting its LPG terminal for simultaneous handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import. The gas distribution companies, SNGPL/ SSGC have also proposed to buy raw gas from Latif field gate, designating the pipeline network from Latif field to Sawan plant as transmission pipeline.
Officials said that Pakistan''s search for new hydrocarbon reservoirs continued to remain stagnant in the first half of the financial year 2011-12. Only six exploratory wells were drilled in the past six months. According to officials, the main reason behind all stagnation in the exploration and production activities was circular debt, unstable political situation, differences among the provinces and investors as well as security situation particularly in KP and Balochistan.
During this period, E&P companies continued to focus on maximum utilisation of their existing reservoirs, spudding 15 wells, a notch above 13 wells drilled in comparable period last year. Pakistan Oilfields (POL) and Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) during past six months drilled one exploratory well each while Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has yet to spud for new reservoirs.
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