National ( The cow news digital )
KARACHI — In a major breakthrough for the country’s energy sector, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has announced a significant discovery of high-quality natural gas and condensate from its exploratory well, Dolphin X-1, located in the Sirani Block of Sujawal district, Sindh.
The discovery marks the first-ever successful hydrocarbon extraction from the Jurassic-age Chiltan Formation within the Lower Indus Basin. According to an official company statement, tests conducted at the well yielded high-value natural gas with a heating value of approximately 1,000 Btu/scf at a flow rate of 0.942 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) under a wellhead flowing pressure of 211 psig.
Historically, exploration in the Sirani Block—where PPL holds a 75% working interest alongside Joint Venture partner Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) holding 25%—remained restricted due to the region’s hostile, marshy terrain. PPL successfully navigated these logistical hurdles by deploying specialized transition zone equipment to capture 2D and 3D seismic data prior to drilling. The Dolphin X-1 well was spudded on April 17, 2026, and drilled down to a measured depth of 3,850 meters to reach the targeted formation.
Geologists note that this milestone firmly establishes a working petroleum system along Sindh’s coastal fringe. By proving hydrocarbon viability in these marshlands, the discovery opens a new operational frontier that could extend into Pakistan’s shallow offshore zones, offering promising prospects for future exploration drives.
