MARI drills second gas well in Sindh

KARACHI: Mari Petroleum Company Limited said on Friday it had successfully drilled and tested a second appraisal well in the Ghazij formation in Sindh province, boosting its gas reserves and production potential.

The company, which operates the Mari Development and Production Lease (D&PL) with a 100 percent working interest, said in a filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that the well was spudded on Dec. 20, 2023, and reached a depth of 1,014 meters. “As part of the appraisal plan for the Ghazij discovery in the Mari Development and Production Lease, MARI has successfully drilled and tested the second appraisal well in the Ghazij formation," the company said.

“As part of the appraisal plan for the Ghazij discovery in the Mari Development and Production Lease, MARI has successfully drilled and tested the second appraisal well in the Ghazij formation.

“The well was spudded in on December 20, 2023, and drilled down to a depth of 1,014 meters. The post-acid gas flow rate from the well was 6.57 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) with a wellhead flowing pressure (WHFP) of 306 pounds per square inch (Psi) at 64/64-inch choke size.”

The well will be put on test production after completing the necessary regulatory formalities. MARI said the successful drilling and testing of the second appraisal well in the Ghazij formation confirmed the presence of a "sizeable gas accumulation" in the area, which would enhance the company's gas reserves and production.

Earlier this month, MARI announced a gas discovery at the Shewa-2 appraisal-cum-exploratory well in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

MARI then said the well was drilled to a depth of 4,577 meters on November 01, 2023, to appraise the Lockhart and Hangu formations, which were previously discovered at exploratory well Shewa1, as well as test the hydrocarbon potential of the well’s exploratory targets i.e. Samanasuk and Kawagarh formations.

MPCL is one of the largest oil and gas exploration and production companies in Pakistan, with a diversified portfolio of assets across the country. The company is an integrated oil and gas exploration and production company with a 70 percent exploration success rate, which is much higher than the industry averages of around 33 percent national and 14 percent international.