Karachi: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has made a pioneering gas and condensate discovery from its operated exploratory well Dolphin X-1 in Sirani Block, District Sujawal, Sindh, opening up a new hydrocarbon play in the Lower Indus Basin, the company said on Monday.
The discovery marks the first-ever hydrocarbon find from the Jurassic-age Chiltan Formation in the Lower Indus Basin and establishes the presence of a working petroleum system in the area, said a news release issued here on Monday.
The company said the discovery had opened a new exploration frontier across the onshore marshy area and its possible extensions into the shallow offshore, further enhancing the prospectivity of Pakistan’s shallow offshore.
PPL said the area had long been considered inaccessible for exploration because of its challenging geographical location and marshy terrain. It became the first exploration and production company to overcome the terrain and deploy specialised transition equipment to acquire 2D and 3D seismic data, converting the previously unexplored frontier into a proven petroleum play.
The Dolphin X-1 well was spudded on April 17, 2026 and drilled to a measured depth of 3, 850 metres to test the hydrocarbon potential of the Chiltan Formation.
Based on drilling results and wireline log data, a hydrocarbon-bearing zone was identified. During testing, the Chiltan Formation flowed gas with a heating value of around 1, 000 British thermal units per standard cubic foot at a rate of 0. 942 million standard cubic feet per day, at a wellhead flowing pressure of 211 pounds per square inch gauge and a 32/64-inch choke.
PPL operates the Sirani Block with a 75 per cent working interest, while Government Holdings (Private) Limited holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
The company said the well was drilled and tested using indigenous expertise and had resulted in the discovery of a new hydrocarbon play within the Chiltan Limestone.
PPL acknowledged the Pakistan Navy’s support throughout the project, saying its assistance had contributed to making the outcome possible.
The company said preliminary geological, geophysical and engineering data indicated that the reservoir was tight. However, the finding would require further detailed evaluation of geological and geophysical data and reservoir engineering information collected during drilling and testing.
PPL said the discovery reflected its continued efforts to explore challenging and previously untapped areas and contribute to Pakistan’s energy security.
