Dadu, Pakistan – March 24, 2025 — Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PSX: PPL), a key player in the nation’s energy sector, has confirmed a notable hydrocarbon find at the Rafat-1 exploratory well in District Dadu, Sindh Province. This breakthrough stems from the Kirthar Joint Venture (KJV), where Pakistan Oilfields Gas Company (POGC) holds a commanding 70% stake, with PPL retaining the remaining 30%.
In a formal update to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), PPL revealed that drilling at Rafat-1 kicked off on September 20, 2024, targeting the gas-rich Pab Formation. Operations reached a total depth of 2,514 meters by December 18, 2024. Initial assessments, backed by wireline logs and drilling insights, prompted the joint venture to conduct Drill Stem Testing (DST) on specific zones within the Upper Pab Formation.
Though early gas flows proved challenging to measure due to the reservoir’s low permeability, hydraulic fracturing transformed the well’s potential. Post-fracking, the team executed multiple clean-up flows and wireline perforations, followed by rigorous completion and integrity checks. These efforts culminated in a steady gas flow of 1.10 million standaard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) through a 48/64” choke, with a flowing wellhead pressure (FWHP) of around 110 psi.
Though modest in scale, PPL views the Rafat-1 success as a vital step forward. “This find reinforces our dedication to advancing Pakistan’s energy landscape and securing its future,” the company stated. The development is poised to strengthen market optimism and fuel efforts to harness the country’s untapped hydrocarbon wealth.
