Key points

  • Pakistan Petroleum Limited plans a 6,000-metre exploratory well at the Sui field for fiscal year 2027-28.
  • The project targets an initial two trillion cubic feet of gas with an estimated capital expenditure of $35-40 million.
  • Production is expected to rise to around 680 million cubic feet of gas equivalent per day in fiscal year 2027.

Pakistan Petroleum Limited aims to drill a deep exploratory well at its historic Sui field to counter depleting reserves, according to a report by Arif Habib Limited. The initiative involves high-pressure and high-temperature technical challenges while targeting significant new gas volumes.

Key Details

According to Arif Habib Limited, the planned exploratory well at the Sui field will reach a depth of 6,000 metres during the 2027-28 fiscal year. The report stated that the project carries an estimated capital expenditure ranging between $35 million and $40 million, with an initial gas target of two trillion cubic feet. Furthermore, Pakistan Petroleum Limited expects overall production to increase to approximately 680 million cubic feet of gas equivalent per day in fiscal year 2027, compared to 649 million cubic feet per day in fiscal year 2026. The company anticipates adding 33 million cubic feet per day of incremental production during fiscal year 2027 from various discoveries, including Baragzai in Nashpa, Latif-25, Makori East, Tolanj West, and Rehman-9 in the Kirthar Block, with development activities contributing around 17 million cubic feet per day.

Context and Impact

As mature fields experience natural depletion rates of approximately 8 to 9 percent annually, the company is stepping up exploration and infrastructure efforts to sustain and expand domestic energy supplies. Business Recorder reported that the broader strategy includes advancing infrastructure projects to integrate additional gas into the national distribution system. Notably, the Zafir gas processing plant is scheduled to commence operations in December 2026 to provide initial contributions to the network.

Summary and What Next

The expansion and deep-drilling initiatives underline ongoing efforts by the energy sector to mitigate falling output from older reservoirs. Further updates regarding development timelines and operational milestones will depend on the progression of these infrastructure and drilling projects.