OGDC announces oil, gas discovery in Kohat

A major oil and gas discovery at its exploratory well Baragzai X-01 (Slant) in Kohat.

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), Pakistan’s leading exploration and production company, has announced a major oil and gas discovery at its exploratory well Baragzai X-01 (Slant) in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The discovery was made in the Lumshiwal Formation within the Nashpa Exploration Licence area. During testing in the Hangu and Lumshiwal formations, the well produced 225 barrels of oil per day and 1.01 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The company said the test was carried out through a 32/64-inch choke with a wellhead flowing pressure of 190 psig.

The Baragzai X-01 (Slant) well was spudded on December 30, 2024, to examine the oil and gas potential of several formations, including Lockhart, Hangu, Lumshiwal, Samana Suk, Shinawari, Datta, and Kingriali. The well was successfully drilled to a total depth of 5,170 metres, reaching the Kingriali Formation.

Earlier tests were also conducted in the Kingriali, Datta, Samana Suk, and Shinawari formations, which resulted in additional oil and gas discoveries. The latest test in the Lumshiwal Formation further confirms the commercial potential of the block.

OGDC operates the Nashpa Exploration Licence with a 65 percent working interest, alongside Pakistan Petroleum Limited holding 30 percent and Government Holdings (Private) Limited with a 5 percent carried interest.

The company said this new discovery will help improve Pakistan’s energy security by increasing local oil and gas production. It will also add to the reserves of OGDC and its partners and help reduce the country’s energy supply and demand gap.