ISLAMABAD: The state-owned Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Wednesday said it made a significant oil and gas discovery from its exploratory well Bobi Deep-1, located in Sindh’s Sanghar district.

The company is the country’s largest oil and gas producer and, in April this year, began commercial production from Pakistan’s largest-ever oil and gas discovery from a single well.

In a statement issued today, OGDCL said the well successfully tested the Massive Sand interval of the Lower Goru Formation and produced 2,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) and 1.1 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) through a cased-hole Drill Stem Test (DST), confirming the hydrocarbon potential of the reservoir.

A Drill Stem Test (DST) is a temporary well-completion procedure used in oil and gas exploration to assess the pressure, permeability and production potential of a geological formation. It helps determine whether a well has encountered a commercially viable reservoir without the need for costly permanent casing.

“The achievement marks a major milestone for OGDCL as the first hydrocarbon discovery from the Massive Sand play within the Bobi and Dhamraki Mining Lease,” the company stated.

“Beyond the discovery itself, the success has opened a new exploration window in the area, de-risking similar prospects in the surrounding region and creating opportunities for future reserve additions and resource growth,” said the oil company.

The discovery is particularly significant because the project had previously encountered complex subsurface challenges that led to the suspension of drilling operations.

“Rather than abandoning the prospect, OGDCL relied on indigenous expertise and adopted an innovative approach to address the issue,” it said.

A multidisciplinary team of geoscientists and engineers collaborated with the Centre for Pure and Applied Geology at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, to investigate the formation through advanced geophysical surveys, subsurface studies and field evaluations.

The joint effort led to the development of a comprehensive geological and geophysical model, enabling OGDC to de-risk the prospect and resume operations. Multiple engineering safeguards, specialised civil works and extensive technical evaluations were carried out before the drilling rig was redeployed and the target depth successfully reached.

“The exploratory well Bobi Deep-1 success story stands as a testament to indigenous innovation, technical excellence and industry-academia collaboration. It demonstrates how local expertise can successfully resolve complex operational challenges and unlock new hydrocarbon resources for the country,” the company said.

“The discovery is expected to contribute towards enhancing Pakistan’s indigenous oil and gas production, strengthening national energy security, reducing reliance on imported energy and augmenting the hydrocarbon reserves base of the country,” it concluded.

Last April, OGDCL announced the successful revival of oil and gas production from Chak#2-2 well, a joint venture in the Sinjhoro Block in Sanghar.

The Sinjhoro Block comprises OGDCL as the operator with a 62.5 per cent working interest, alongside Government Holdings (Pvt) Ltd (GHPL) with 22.5pc, and Orient Petroleum Inc. (OPI) holding a 15pc share.