OGDCL Gas Discovery Sindh at Bitrisim Well
The OGDCL gas discovery Sindh was announced on Wednesday, as the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) confirmed a gas and condensate find at its Bitrisim Northwest-1 exploratory well in District Khairpur, in a boost for domestic energy supply.
Testing recorded 12.8 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas and 175 barrels of condensate per day, ProPakistani reported on Wednesday. The company said it was moving fast to connect the well to the national gas gathering system so the discovery could start earning revenue early.
The find comes from the Basal Sands of the Lower Goru Formation within the Bitrisim Exploration Licence. OGDCL operates the licence with a 95% working interest, while Government Holdings (Private) Limited holds the remaining 5%.
OGDCL gas discovery Sindh: how the well was tested
The well was spudded on August 21, 2026, and drilled to a total depth of 3,732 metres in the Sembar Formation. Based on well log readings, a Drill Stem Test was carried out in the Basal Sands of the Lower Goru Formation.
During testing, the well produced 12.8 MMSCFD of gas and 175 barrels of condensate per day through a 32/64 inch choke at a wellhead flowing pressure of 3,020 pounds per square inch (psi).
OGDCL said it was accelerating the work needed to connect the well to the national gas gathering system on a fast-track basis, allowing early monetisation of the discovery. The company expects the find to strengthen its hydrocarbon reserves and support Pakistan’s energy security by helping to close the growing gap between domestic energy demand and supply.
Second success in the same block
This is not the first good news from the Bitrisim area this season. OGDCL started gas and condensate production from the Bitrism East-1 well in Khairpur on October 23, in the same licence block. Two successes in the same area within three weeks suggest the block holds more than a single isolated pocket of gas.
That matters because Pakistan’s gas fields are ageing. Output from older fields has been falling for years, while demand from homes, industry, and power plants keeps rising. Each new domestic find trims the import bill a little, since gas bought abroad costs foreign exchange and arrives exposed to world prices.
Exploration is also picking up offshore. A Turkish vessel is due in Karachi for offshore exploration, a sign that foreign partners are still willing to drill in Pakistani waters. Onshore finds like Bitrisim Northwest-1 are cheaper and faster to bring into production than deep-water wells, which is why OGDCL is pushing for an early connection to the gathering system.
Why the find matters for gas supply
Pakistan faces a structural gas shortage. Local production meets only part of demand, and the shortfall is filled with imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is costly and subject to global price swings.
A flow of 12.8 MMSCFD is modest next to national demand, which runs into billions of cubic feet a day. It will not end the shortage on its own. But small and mid-sized discoveries add up, and they arrive without the lead times and costs of major new field developments.
The gas pricing and allocation system also shapes how much of a new find reaches homes. Local LPG allocation now reserves 10% for state firms, and a Senate panel has sought a 20-year record of gas royalties, showing how closely parliament watches who benefits from gas revenue. For the Bitrisim find, the key test will be how quickly the gas reaches the system and at what price it is sold.
Energy prices are moving in consumers’ favour for now. Oil prices have fallen 2% to a two-month low on hopes for calm over Iran, which eases pressure on Pakistan’s fuel import bill. Cheaper oil does not fix the gas gap, but it gives the government more room while new domestic supply comes online.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Bitrisim Northwest-1 well?
The well is in District Khairpur, Sindh, within the Bitrisim Exploration Licence. The discovery was made in the Basal Sands of the Lower Goru Formation.
How much gas did the well produce during testing?
It produced 12.8 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and 175 barrels of condensate per day, through a 32/64 inch choke at a wellhead flowing pressure of 3,020 psi.
Who owns the Bitrisim licence?
OGDCL operates the licence with a 95% working interest. Government Holdings (Private) Limited holds the remaining 5%.
When will the gas reach consumers?
OGDCL said it was working on a fast-track basis to connect the well to the national gas gathering system for early monetisation. No firm date for first gas sales has been announced yet.
