Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) has signed a contract with Canada-based Synergetic Oil Tools Inc. to deploy its Passive Energy Tool technology at OGDC’s heavy crude oil fields in Pakistan, with the partnership aimed at improving production efficiency, reducing well downtime and lowering operating costs.
The contract was signed during a ceremony held at OGDC Headquarters in Islamabad, bringing together senior representatives from OGDC, Synergetic Oil Tools Inc. and the Canadian High Commission. Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ambassador Tarik Ali Khan attended the ceremony as the chief guest, while OGDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Hayat Lak was also present. Synergetic Oil Tools Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Herman participated in the ceremony virtually. Senior officials and representatives from the three organisations also attended the event.
Under the agreement, Synergetic Oil Tools will deploy its Passive Energy Tool technology at selected OGDC heavy oil wells. The technology is designed to address production challenges associated with highly viscous crude oil, where the characteristics of heavy oil can make extraction and continuous production more difficult. By optimising fluid characteristics and improving flow assurance within heavy oil wells, the technology is intended to support more consistent production while reducing operational requirements associated with maintaining these wells.
A key objective of the technology deployment is to reduce the frequency of workovers required at heavy oil wells. Workovers can involve significant operational activity and costs, particularly when wells experience production challenges or require interventions to maintain output. By reducing the need for frequent workovers, the Passive Energy Tool technology is expected to help OGDC minimise well downtime and improve the overall efficiency of its field operations.
The technology is also expected to contribute to lower operating costs through reduced production interruptions and a decrease in the use of production chemicals. This is particularly relevant for heavy crude oil operations, where maintaining appropriate flow characteristics can require additional operational measures. The deployment of the technology is therefore intended to provide OGDC with a more efficient approach to managing production from technically challenging heavy oil wells.
Speaking about the agreement, OGDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Hayat Lak said the partnership demonstrates the company’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies to address production challenges in heavy oil reservoirs. He said OGDC is continuing to explore opportunities with international technology providers to improve production efficiency and maximise recovery from mature and technically challenging fields.
Ahmed Hayat Lak further expressed the expectation that the new technology would significantly reduce workover requirements and operating costs while improving production performance. The partnership reflects OGDC’s broader efforts to identify technological solutions that can improve the performance of existing assets and support greater recovery from fields that present complex production conditions.
Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ambassador Tarik Ali Khan also highlighted the significance of cooperation between Pakistan and Canada in the energy and critical minerals sectors. He expressed confidence that the deployment of Synergetic Oil Tools’ technology would contribute to the development of Pakistan’s upstream oil industry.
The agreement represents another step in OGDC’s strategy of working with international technology providers to improve operational efficiency and production capabilities. By introducing Passive Energy Tool technology into its heavy oil operations, the company aims to address some of the technical challenges associated with highly viscous crude oil while reducing operational interruptions and associated costs.
The collaboration also reflects the role of international technology partnerships in supporting Pakistan’s oil and gas sector. For OGDC, the focus remains on improving production from mature and technically challenging fields, maximising recovery and adopting technologies that can contribute to more efficient operations. The partnership with Synergetic Oil Tools is expected to support these objectives through the deployment of technology specifically designed for heavy crude oil production environments.
As OGDC continues to assess technologies and partnerships that can improve field performance, the agreement with Synergetic Oil Tools provides a new approach for addressing flow assurance, workover frequency, well downtime and chemical usage at heavy oil wells. The collaboration between the Pakistani energy company and its Canadian technology partner further strengthens international cooperation in Pakistan’s upstream oil and gas industry.
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