In a formal disclosure to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has announced a successful hydrocarbon discovery from the exploration well Barki-1, located in the Kotri North Block in District Jamshoro, Sindh Province. The well, which is part of a partner-operated joint venture, was spudded on July 21, 2025, and drilled to a total depth of 3,392 feet to target the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene sands.
After encountering encouraging data from wireline logs, the joint venture conducted Modular Dynamic Testing (MDT) which confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons within the interbedded sandstones of the Pab Formation from the Late Cretaceous Age. Following this confirmation, the well was completed and perforated in the identified zones.
Initial Completion Integrity Testing (CIT) resulted in a flow rate of approximately 1.5 million standard cubic feet per day of gas. A subsequent acid stimulation job was performed on the perforated intervals, which led to a substantially improved post-stimulation flow rate of around 5.5 MMscfd of gas, with the flowing wellhead pressure also increasing significantly from 200 psig to 460 psig.
The Barki-1 discovery is a key development that has proven the hydrocarbon potential of the Pab Sands in the Kotri North Block, and the joint venture is now evaluating similar geological plays for future drilling campaigns to capitalize on this success. The joint venture comprises United Energy Pakistan Limited as the operator with a fifty percent working interest, Pakistan Petroleum Limited with a forty percent working interest, and Asia Resources Oil Limited holding the remaining ten percent stake. The disclosure was made in compliance with the Securities Act, 2015, and PSX regulations.
