Editor Report
ISLAMABAD:Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan’s largest exploration and production company, has achieved a historic milestone with the highest-ever oil and gas production from a single well in the country’s history at its Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploratory well in the Nashpa Block, located in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik formally inaugurated the commencement of commercial production at a ceremony held at OGDCL Headquarters in Islamabad.Federal Secretary, Petroleum Division, Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, MD/CEO OGDCL, Ahmed Hayat Lak, along with senior officials of the company and representatives of other E&P and service companies, were also present on the occasion.Following Wednesday’s injection of 5,300 barrels of oil per day (BPD), 17 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas, and 15 metric tonnes per day (MTD) of LPG, cumulative production from the well has reached 15,000 barrels of oil per day and 45 million standard cubic feet per day of gas.The well’s production is projected to increase to 25,000 barrels of oil per day and 60 million standard cubic feet per day of gas in the near future. The discovery was made across five different formations at the Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploratory well.
The project has been developed in one of the most challenging terrains in the country, where OGDCL deployed advanced technologies to ensure efficient and safe operations. In a significant operational achievement, an 8-kilometre pipeline was laid in record time, alongside critical modifications for gas processing and crude oil storage, as well as integration with Mela and Nashpa facilities.Baragzai X-01 is now the highest-producing well in OGDCL’s portfolio and in Pakistan’s history, contributing approximately 10% of the country’s total crude oil production. The company successfully brought the well into production following the testing and completion phase.The project is expected to generate substantial economic benefits, with estimated daily revenue of Rs156 million, monthly revenue of Rs4.7 billion, and annual revenue of Rs57 billion. It is also projected to result in annual foreign exchange savings of approximately $329 million by reducing reliance on imported fuels.Speaking on the occasion, Ali Pervaiz Malik congratulated OGDCL, its joint venture partners, and service providers on the achievement, terming the discovery monumental and a significant contribution to the country’s energy security.
