Makhori field operationalised: LPG output to rise to 620,500 tons annually

The country's Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) production is to reach 620,500 tons per annum with additional production of 109,500 tons per annum from Makhori East-III by next month. According to Petroleum Ministry officials Pakistan's current LPG production stands at 511,000 tons per annum and 300 tons per day or 109,500 tons per annum LGP production would start from March 10, 2014 from Makhori East-III gas/oil field, which became operational on February 10, 2014.
Makhori East-III field located in Tal Block is jointly explored by Hungarian Oil and Gas Company MOL, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL); Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL); Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL) and Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL). On February 10, the field stared production of 28 Million Cubic Feet per Day (MMCFD) of gas and 7,600 barrels per day of crude oil. Sources told Business Recorder that MOL is the operator of the Tal Block located in the Kohat Plateau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The country will have 300 tons of LPG per day from March 10. This additional production of crude oil, gas and LPG will help save an estimated $800 million per annum spending on the import of oil and LPG.
So far, six discoveries have been made in the block, the first in 2002 and the most recent in 2011. Commercial production has commenced from Manzalai, Makhori and Makhori East fields. Mamikhel and Maramzai discoveries are currently being evaluated through Extended Well Testing (EWT). Officials said this year, local LPG production is expected to increase by 255,500 tons per annum or 700 tons per day, crude oil production is likely to cross 100,000 barrels per day from current production of around 84,000 barrels per day and natural gas production by 700 MMCFD.
The total capacity of the field is to produce 30,000 barrels of crude oil/condensate, 450 tons of LPG per day and 150 MMCFD of gas. About 22, 000 barrels per day of crude oil is expected to come into the system from Makhori and another 21,000 barrels per day from Nashpa field being operated by OGDCL. The MOL has installed Gas Processing Facilities (GPF) in TAL block, with a capacity to process 30,000 bbl/d of oil/condensate and 150 MMCFD of gas. After the installation of the gas processing facilities, the company will be producing up to 300-350 tons of LPG per day.
Total production of LPG stands at roughly 511,000 tons per year of which refineries accounted for 55 percent, while gas fields contribute about 45 percent. "Up to 80,000 tons of LPG is imported, while another 25,000 tons is smuggled into the country from Turkmenistan and Iran," sources said.