Pakistan has made a significant oil and gas discovery at the Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploratory well located in the Nashpa Block of District Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, boosting the country’s domestic energy resources. The discovery was announced by Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in a notification to the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
OGDCL operates the Nashpa Exploration License with a 65 percent working interest, in partnership with Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) holding 30 percent and Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) with a 5 percent carried interest. The hydrocarbons were found in the Samana Suk and Shinawari formations at the Baragzai X-01 well.
During Cased Hole Drill Stem Test-03 (CHDST-03), the well produced 3,100 barrels of oil per day and 8.15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day through a 32/64-inch choke, with a wellhead flowing pressure of 3,010 psig. The well was initially spudded on December 30, 2024, to explore multiple formations including Lockhart, Hangu, Lumshiwal, Samana Suk, Shinawari, Datta and Kingriali. The well reached a total depth of 5,170 metres into the Kingriali Formation. Previous testing of the Kingriali and Datta formations had already resulted in oil and gas discoveries, confirming the strong hydrocarbon potential of the Nashpa Block.
OGDCL stated that this latest find will help reduce Pakistan’s energy supply gap by increasing indigenous oil and gas resources. The discovery will also contribute to the hydrocarbon reserves of OGDCL, its joint venture partners, and the country as a whole, strengthening domestic energy security.
