The Oil and Gas sector in Pakistan has seen phenomenal growth since the independence in 1947 when oil quantities produced were scarce. These limited quantities were being produced from a few small fields located in the Potohar region. At that time was no gas production.
Over the past half century the petroleum industry has played a significant role in national development by making large indigenous gas discoveries. Pakistan meets about 18% of its oil demand from local sources. The Government realising fully well that while a fiscal package with competitive incentives plays a vital role in attracting fresh investment an adequate protection of the companies' investment, is an essential prerequisite for the promotion of petroleum exploration in the country. This led to the enactment of the Foreign Investment Protection law of 1976 by the Parliament , under which the Government guaranteed full safeguard to foreign investments in Pakistan.
Pakistan's presents economy growth rate shows that our energy needs will increase from 64.5 Million Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (TOE), in 2010-11 to over 361.31 Million TOE in 2030. To overcome the projected needs of energy, major dependence will remain on the Oil & Gas sector. A total of 808 exploratory wells have been drilled so far in the sedimentary basins of Pakistan covering 827,267 Sq. Kms. Till 31st July 2012, 250 oil and gas fields (58 oil and 192 gas and gas/condensate) have been discovered in various basins of Pakistan with a success rate of 1:3.22. The remaining recoverable reserves of natural gas and oil are estimated at 26.6 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) and 341.9 Million US Barrels respectively.
Large areas of Pakistan's petroliferous basins eg Offshore Indus Basin, Makran Basin & Balochistan Basin still remain as a geological frontier and hold promise for the future in view of the multiple havitats for petroleum generation and accumulation which may act as a game changer in energy self-sufficiency. Independent international studies indicate an oil and gas potential that is many times more than these proven reserves. This area is totally under-explored & exports believe that it has huge prospectus for oil & gas. Following steps are being taken to enhance the exploration of oil & gas in the country:-
--- New Petroleum (Exploration & Production) Policy, 2012 will accelerate E & P activities and promote foreign direct investment in the oil & gas sector of Pakistan.
--- Basin study has been completed to co-relate entire data of different basins. It would help to identify new play types and help in new discoveries & simultaneously increase in indigenous energy.
--- Have state-of-the-art data repository centre-digitised data is available to existing and new companies to participate in exploration.
--- For exploration of non-conventional hydrocarbons separate policies on Tight Gas, Low BTU, Low Pressure Flared (LPF) gas have been prepared.
--- Completion of pending development projects-can and 400-500 MMCFD gas. At the current oil and gas production/consumption rate, the oil reserves can last for 11 years and gas for the 18 years. The government is thereof, besides making efforts to increase local supply has signed an agreement for import of gas from Iran. Additionally government is also considering different options of import of gas from Turkmenistan & Qatar and import of LNG to cope with the increase in demand.
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Exploratory Wells drilled in Offshore
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S. No Well Operator Spud Date T.D (M) Completion Date Formation at TD Status
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1 Daboo Creek-1 Sun Oil 20-11-1963 4355 08-08-1964 Sembar Abandoned
2 Paitani Creek-1 Sun Oil 19-08-1964 2522 22-10-1964 Mugla Kot Abandoned
3 Korangi Creek-1 Sun Oil 25-10-1964 4140 21-02-1965 Koarara Shale Abandoned
4 Indus Marine-1A Winter Shell 12-09-1972 2841 14-12-1972 Miocene Abandoned
5 Indus Marine-1B Winter Shell 15-12-1972 3804 14-03-1973 Lower Miocene Abandoned
6 Indus Marine-1C Winter Shell 04-03-1975 1942 13-05-1997 Lower Econcene
Abandoned
7 Jal Pari -1A Marathon 30-12-1976 2007 13-2-1977 Hinglej Group Abandoned
8 Karachi South Husky 26-02-1978 3353 09-05-1978 Mughal Kot Abandoned
9 Packan-1 OGDC 27-09-1985 3701 05-02-1986 Middle Miocene Abandoned
10 Sadaf-1 OXY 22-12-1989 3980 08-03-1990 Top Earl y Miocene Abandoned
11 Pasni-1 Ocean 11-10-1999 3569 17-01-2000 Parkini Abandoned
12 Gawadar-1 Ocean 30-01-2000 3810 27-03-2000 Parkini Abandoned
13 Pak G2 Total 12-05-2004 4750 18-06-2004 Abandoned
14 Pasni X-2 PPL 18-02-2005 4000 03-09-2005 Panjgur Abandoned
15 Anne-Ax -1 Shell 01-10-2007 3257 19-11-2007 Abandoned
16 Shark Eni 17-01-2010 3500 Abandoned
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