Pakistan’s biggest-ever well starts production as OGDC targets 25,000 BPD output

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s largest exploration firm has launched commercial production from the Baragzai X-01 well, delivering the country’s highest-ever oil and gas output from a single well and significantly boosting domestic energy supplies.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik formally inaugurated production from the well, operated by Oil and Gas Development Company Limited OGDCL), at a ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Islamabad.

Located in the Nashpa Block in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploratory well marks a historic milestone in Pakistan’s upstream sector, emerging as the highest-producing well both in OGDC’s portfolio and in the country’s history.

Following the latest injection on Wednesday, the well is currently producing 5,300 barrels of oil per day (BPD), 17 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas, and 15 metric tons per day (MTD) of LPG. Cumulatively, production has reached 15,000 BPD of oil and 45 MMSCFD of gas, with projections to increase to 25,000 BPD and 60 MMSCFD in the near future.

The discovery is particularly significant as hydrocarbons were found across five different formations, highlighting the well’s strong reservoir potential and long-term production prospects.

Despite being located in one of the country’s most challenging terrains, OGDC successfully developed the project using advanced technologies. In a notable operational feat, the company laid an 8-kilometre pipeline in record time, alongside upgrades to gas processing and crude storage facilities, and integration with the Mela and Nashpa production systems.

Baragzai X-01 is now contributing approximately 10 percent of Pakistan’s total crude oil production, underscoring its strategic importance in reducing the country’s reliance on imported fuels.

The project is also expected to deliver substantial economic gains, with estimated daily revenues of Rs156 million, translating into Rs4.7 billion monthly and around Rs57 billion annually. Additionally, it is projected to save approximately $329 million annually in foreign exchange by substituting imports.

Speaking at the inauguration, the minister termed the discovery a “monumental achievement” and a major boost to Pakistan’s energy security. He commended OGDC, its joint venture partners, and service providers for their efforts, and emphasized the need to further strengthen indigenous exploration and production.

Managing Director and CEO of OGDC, Ahmed Hayat Lak, also praised the technical teams and field staff for achieving the milestone under difficult conditions, reaffirming the company’s commitment to accelerating exploration and expanding production capacity.

The Baragzai X-01 development is being seen as a major step toward unlocking Pakistan’s hydrocarbon potential, reinforcing OGDC’s leadership in the upstream sector while supporting national goals of energy security, import substitution, and economic stability.