Extensive Oil, Gas Exploration Activities Underway In FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Umer Jamshaid Published June 07, 2018 | 02:41 PM

The government has initiated extensive oil and gas exploration activities in potential areas of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jun, 2018 ) :The government has initiated extensive oil and gas exploration activities in potential areas of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector.

MOL Pakistan, an oil and gas exploration company, has commenced the 'Gravity Survey' in Tal block of North Waziristan Agency. It is also planning to conduct drilling in the Biland Khel area under the same block, official sources told APP.

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has completed a 2D seismic survey in the FR Barinu area of Latamber Block in 2016 and stated that drilling operations in the area would start by the end of 2017.

The OGDCL has also planned to initiate the 2D seismic survey in the Wali Block, covering South Waziristan Agency, Lakki Marwat and FR Tank.

At present, the project is under discussion with the law enforcement agencies and hopefully the survey would be completed in the current year.

Zhen-Hua, a Chinese company, has completed the 2D seismic survey in the Baska block of FR D I Khan.

Whereas, another oil and gas exploration and production company � Hycarbex � has completed geological mapping in Peshawar block of FR Peshawar, Orakzai and Khyber agencies last year.

Al-Haj, an oil and gas exploration and production company, has completed 80 percent of the 2D seismic survey in Baska North Block of FR D I Khan and South Waziristan Agency.

The OGDCL has completed geological mapping in the Orakzai and Tirah blocks and that the 2D seismic surveys would start during the current year.

The sources said the OGDCL and MOL Pakistan have produced Rs 99.538 billion crude oil and natural gas from its different operational fields of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the last 17 years. The two leading companies have extracted over 89,998,250 bbl crude oil and 87,217,244 mcf natural gas during the period, they added.