Oil and Gas Development Company Limited has reached a historic milestone in Pakistan’s energy sector by commencing oil production from its Pasakhi-13 well. This development is particularly significant as it marks the country’s first successful deployment of horizontal drilling technology within a clastic reservoir. In a formal disclosure submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the state-owned energy giant confirmed that the well, situated in the Hyderabad district of Sindh, is currently contributing 460 barrels of oil per day to the national supply. This achievement underscores a major leap in domestic engineering capabilities and resource extraction strategies.
The technical execution of the Pasakhi-13 well involved high-precision drilling to a total measured depth of 2,966 metres. This included a specialized 546-metre horizontal section, which was navigated using advanced geo-steering technology. By utilizing this method, OGDCL engineers were able to maneuver through a narrow drilling window to precisely target the most productive zones of the reservoir. To facilitate the flow of oil from this unique configuration, the company successfully tested and completed the well using a short string Electric Submersible Pump specifically designed for horizontal well architectures.
According to the official disclosure, the shift from traditional vertical drilling to a horizontal approach has yielded exceptional results. By providing greater exposure to the reservoir, the horizontal section allowed for production levels nearly three times higher than those of neighboring offset wells operating under similar geological conditions. This efficiency gain highlights the potential for OGDCL to revisit older fields and apply modern recovery techniques to maximize output. The Pasakhi-13 well is a core component of the Pasakhi and Pasakhi North Development and Production Lease, an area where OGDCL maintains a 100% working interest.
The successful operation at Pasakhi-13 is seen as a vital contribution to Pakistan’s broader energy security goals. As the country faces a widening gap between energy demand and indigenous supply, increasing domestic oil production helps reduce the heavy financial burden of energy imports. OGDCL stated that this project supports the national objective of strengthening the energy supply chain while proving the commercial viability of horizontal drilling in complex clastic formations. The project’s success is expected to pave the way for similar high-tech interventions in other oil-bearing regions across the country.
Industry experts believe that the integration of geo-steering and horizontal completions will become a new standard for OGDCL as it seeks to optimize its aging assets and explore new frontiers. With the Pasakhi-13 well now fully operational, the company is focusing on scaling these technological advancements to other prospective sites. For investors and stakeholders, this breakthrough demonstrates OGDCL’s commitment to innovation and its ability to deliver high-value results despite the technical complexities of the Indus Basin’s subsurface geography.
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