PPL Discovers Gas at Dolphin X-1 Well in Sujawal
KARACHI: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), a gas exploration company, has discovered huge gas from its exploration well Dolphin X-1, located in District Sujawal, Sindh, marking a new development in the exploration of hydrocarbons in the province.
According to the company statement on Monday, hydrocarbon-bearing intervals were identified based on drilling results and open-hole log data. During post-acid testing of the Chiltan Formation, the well produced good-quality gas with a heating value of approximately 1,000 Btu per standard cubic foot.
The well flowed at a rate of 0.942 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) against a wellhead flowing pressure of 211 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) through a 32/64-inch choke.
During pre-acid testing, the well also initially produced 94 barrels per day (BPD) of condensate, which declined to 46 BPD within 24 hours. No condensate was observed during subsequent post-acid testing.
The PPL, operator of the Sirani Exploration License, holds a 75 per cent working interest in the license, while its joint venture partner, Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL), holds the remaining 25 per cent.
The Dolphin X-1 well was spudded as an exploratory well on April 17, 2026, and drilled to a measured depth of 3,850 meters to assess the hydrocarbon potential of the Chiltan Formation.
PPL said the initial presence of condensate provides an encouraging indication of hydrocarbon potential in the Chiltan Formation and warrants further exploration and evaluation.
The company’s statement said that the discovery has confirmed the presence of a petroleum system in the area and opened a new exploration frontier across the onshore marshy region, with possible extensions into shallow offshore areas.
The disclosure was made in compliance with Section 96 of the Securities Act, 2015, and the relevant regulations of the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The discovery is expected to provide additional data on the hydrocarbon potential of the Chiltan Formation and the wider Sirani exploration area. Further appraisal and evaluation activities will be required to determine the commercial potential and extent of the discovery. The results could also encourage additional exploration in the surrounding onshore and shallow offshore areas of Sindh.
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