KARACHI: Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) has unveiled a substantial gas discovery in Pakistan’s southern Ghotki-Sindh region, with initial estimates indicating a daily yield of 1.11 million cubic feet of gas per day (MCFD).

MPCL, the operator of Mari Development & Production Lease (D&PL) area with a 100 percent working interest, made the announcement in a correspondence to the Pakistan Stock Exchange dated October 9, 2023.

“Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) has made a gas discovery at its exploratory well Mari Ghazij-l, located in Mari D&PL,” the correspondence said.

“As part of appraisal plan of the discovery, MPCL has successfully drilled and tested the appraisal well Mari Ghazij-2 in Mari D&PL area. MPCL is the Operator of Mari D&PL with 100 percent working interest.”

MPCL said the well was spud-in on September 11, 2023 and successfully drilled down to a depth of 1,016 meters.

“The post-acid gas flow rate was 11.1 Million Standard Cubic Feet Per Day with Wellhead Flowing Pressure of 519 Pounds Per Square Inch at 64/64 inch choke size,” the correspondence added.

Ghazij-2 is the first well in a series of planned appraisal wells to evaluate the Ghazij-l discovery and determine its extent.

“The well will be put on extended well testing in due course for supply of gas to government designated buyer, after completion of requisite regulatory formalities.”

Pakistan’s oil and gas reserves have depleted by 17 percent and 6 percent respectively in the past one year till June 2023, meaning that leftover deposits will be fully consumed in the next 15 years, according to data from the Pakistan Petroleum Information Services.