Pakistan Petroleum Limited Announces Major Oil & Gas Discovery from Dhok Sultan-03 in Potwar Region

Staff Reporter

Karachi : Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), a leading national exploration and production company, has announced a major oil and gas discovery at Dhok Sultan-03, located in District Attock, Punjab Province. This marks the second discovery in the Dhok Sultan Block, further strengthening Pakistan’s indigenous energy potential.

Technical Milestone in Potwar Basin

The discovery is recognized as the second deepest oil find in naturally fractured carbonate formations in the Potwar region, underscoring PPL’s strong in-house technical expertise. The success is attributed to comprehensive geological, geophysical, and reservoir engineering analysis that optimized the well design, saved drilling days, and reduced costs.

Drilling and Testing Results

PPL, as operator of the Dhok Sultan Block with a 75% Working Interest (WI) alongside Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL) with 25% WI, spudded the well on January 18, 2025. The Dhok Sultan-03 well was drilled to a depth of 5,815 meters, targeting the Patala and Lockhart formations.
Testing yielded highly encouraging results:

• 1,469 barrels per day of oil and 2.56 MMscfd of gas at WHFP of 1,147 psig on a 32/64” choke
• 2,113 barrels per day of oil and 4.13 MMscfd of gas at WHFP of 813 psig on a 48/64” choke

Boosting Pakistan’s Energy Security

This breakthrough highlights the untapped hydrocarbon potential of the Potwar–Kohat sub-basin, reaffirming the role of advanced technologies and rigorous geophysical analysis in unlocking reserves.

“This discovery is a testament to PPL’s in-house expertise, perseverance, and commitment to energy security,” said Imran Abbasy, Managing Director & CEO, PPL. “It strengthens our reserves base, reduces reliance on imported energy, and saves valuable foreign exchange.”

Contribution to Pakistan’s Energy Mix

The Dhok Sultan-03 discovery is expected to significantly contribute to Pakistan’s energy mix by adding new hydrocarbon reserves and promoting self-reliance in energy production. PPL remains dedicated to responsible and sustainable exploration, ensuring long-term value creation for the country and its people.