ISLAMABAD
The Petroleum Division (PD) of the Energy Ministry on Monday categorically rejected rumors about the discovery of shale oil and gas in the country, saying no such find had been made, nor was one imminent.
A spokesperson of the Petroleum Division clarified that a task had been given to Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), being the country’s premier Oil and Gas Exploration and Production company, to undertake the first shale pilot project next month, which had caused the mass confusion.
“It is only an initial evaluation being carried out on a trial basis. The lease area for this study is Kunnar and Pasaki fields. Any further speculation in this regard is inaccurate and must be avoided,” the spokesperson said in a press release.
The spokesperson referred the USAID study conducted in 2015 that stated “Pakistan holds substantial presence of shale oil and gas reserves. However, the conversion of these resources into reserves required high investments with inherent risks.”
The PD would be in a position to assess the potential of these reserves after seeing results of the first drill, being carried out as a pilot project, the spokesperson said, adding “Relevant updates in this regard will be shared as and when required or made available. It is once again requested that any conjectures in this matter be avoided.”
Petroleum Ministry should read caption on OGDCL Website part of which reads as follows: The team has conducted a shale gas and tight gas study for Indus Basin and delineated 27 unconventionally focused areas which have shown presence of significant in-place shale gas and tight gas resource. These shale and tight gas horizons are comparable with proven producer shale of USA, Canada and Argentina. After ranking, geo-modeling and simulation for Frac Design, production forecast and economic analysis for three best areas have been completed. OGDCL plans to drill first dedicated shale gas well soon. OGDCL is looking forward and shall welcome dynamic, efficient and capable partnership or joint venture in developing shale gas-tight gas assets”.