OGDC starts gas and condensate production from Bitrism East-1 well in Khairpur
The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) has started producing gas and condensate from its Bitrism East-1 exploratory well in Khairpur district, Sindh. The well is currently flowing seven million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) and 200 barrels of condensate per day.
According to the company, the output is coming from the Basal Sands. OGDC said production is expected to rise gradually as the well’s flow stabilises.
The OGDC Bitrism East-1 well reached production exactly as Pakistan’s energy planners are scrambling to secure winter supplies. The government is weighing a $2 billion decision on 22 LNG cargoes, with winter gas demand projected to nearly double from 850 to 1,600 million cubic feet per day — which makes every new domestic molecule count.
OGDC Bitrism East-1: from discovery to production
OGDC had announced the discovery at Bitrism East-1 on October 1, 2025. The hydrocarbons were found in the Massive and Basal Sands of the Lower Goru Formation.
To bring the well online, the company laid a flowline of around 28 kilometres with an eight-inch diameter, using its in-house resources. The pipeline links the well to the Sinjhoro Plant, where the gas is processed before it is supplied to the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) network.
OGDC is the operator of the Bitrism Exploration Licence with a 77.5 percent working interest. Government Holdings (Pvt) Limited (GHPL) holds the remaining 22.5 percent.
Earlier this year, OGDC also discovered more gas in Sindh’s Khairpur district. Last month, OGDC, Mari and HUBCO started production from a joint venture gas well in Sindh.
Boost for domestic gas supply
The new production is expected to add to domestic gas availability. It also supports efforts to cut reliance on imported energy as Pakistan looks for ways to strengthen its energy security.
The timing matters. Pakistan faces a difficult winter on the energy front: OGRA has delayed a planned crackdown on LPG profiteering even as cylinder prices in northern areas cross Rs10,000, and Middle East tensions are keeping oil markets on edge. Against that backdrop, 7 mmscfd of new domestic gas is a modest but real addition — roughly enough to cover the daily needs of a mid-sized city.
For OGDC, the country’s largest exploration company, Bitrism East-1 adds to a steady pipeline of Sindh discoveries being converted into flowing production.
The company has concentrated much of its recent exploration in Sindh’s Lower Indus basin, where the Goru Formation has yielded a string of finds. Each new well that reaches production reduces the volume Pakistan must buy on the spot LNG market, where prices spike whenever Middle East tensions flare.
Domestic gas also travels a shorter, cheaper route to consumers. Imported LNG must be shipped, regasified and transported through the national grid at dollar-linked costs. Wellhead gas from Khairpur enters the SSGCL system directly, which is one reason policymakers prize even modest additions to indigenous supply.
Sources: ProPakistani reported the production start.
FAQ
How much gas is the Bitrism East-1 well producing?
Seven million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas and 200 barrels of condensate per day, from the Basal Sands. OGDC expects output to rise as the flow stabilises.
Where is the Bitrism East-1 well?
In Khairpur district, Sindh. Gas flows through a 28-kilometre, eight-inch flowline to the Sinjhoro Plant, then into the SSGCL network.
Who operates the well?
OGDC operates the Bitrism Exploration Licence with a 77.5 percent working interest; Government Holdings (Pvt) Limited holds 22.5 percent.
When was the discovery made?
OGDC announced the Bitrism East-1 discovery on October 1, 2025, in the Massive and Basal Sands of the Lower Goru Formation.
