Abbasi Announces Three Gas Discoveries; 30 Mmcfd Gas To Be Added In

Abbasi announces three gas discoveries; 30 mmcfd gas to be added in

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Nov, 2016 ) : Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday announced three gas discoveries made by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in last week.

"The company made three finds from its exploratory wells namely Gundanwari-I, Mithri-I and Khamiso-1 located in Ghotki and Khairpur districts of Sindh province. From where, 30 mmcfd gas will be added in the transmission network," he said while addressing a news conference here.

He said the total number of oil and gas discoveries made during tenure of the current government, had reached the 90 with increase in success rate of drilling from 31 percent to 55 percent. "It means there is a find after every two drills," he said and compared that the previous government had succeeded to made just 35 discoveries in the same period.

During last three years, the minister said oil and gas exploration companies drilled around 319 wells, out of which 158 were appraisal/developmental wells."The figure is 40 percent higher than the tenure of previous government," he added.

Abbasi said the current government had so far added 944 mmcfd (million cubic feet per day) gas in the system out of which 466 mmcfd came from new discoveries and 478 mmcfd gas from existing wells.

Besides, he said, there was an increase of 32,000 barrel per day in crude oil production. He said the processing plant at Kunnar Pashaki Deep (KPD) field would become operational soon, which was pending for last 10 years.

Answering a question, the minister said in this winter gas supply to domestic consumers would be better as compared to previous year. He said there was a 24 percent increase in demand of natural gas in Punjab province.

He said the government was not issuing gas connections on priority rather new gas meters were being installed on the basis of 'first come and first served.' Currently, Abbasi said, new gas connections were being issued to those applicants who allied in the year 2013 and expressed confidence to clear the back log of year 2015 application during the current financial year.

He said Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGPL) issued one million gas connections so far during tenure of the present government. Replying to a question, the minister said efforts were being made to regulate prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

He said the Ministry of Petroleum had revoked 17 non- performing licences acquired by oil and gas exploration companies operating in different parts of the country. Answering a question, Abbasi said commissioning date of the 2nd Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal was June 30, 2017, and hoped that it would complete as per the schedule.

Responding to another query, the minister said no proposal was under consideration to increase gas price for domestic consumers.