Islamabad: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC), a prominent player in Pakistan's energy sector, announced on Friday a new oil and gas discovery at the Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploratory well in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, the discovery occurred in the Lumshiwal Formation under the Nashpa Exploration Licence. The well, which underwent a Cased Hole Drill Stem Test (CHDST-04) in both the Hangu and Lumshiwal formations, yielded 225 barrels of oil per day and 1.01 million standard cubic feet per day of gas. These results were achieved through a 32/64'' choke at a wellhead flowing pressure of 190 psig.

The Baragzai X-01 (Slant) well was initially spudded on December 30, 2024, to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential across several formations, including Lockhart, Hangu, Lumshiwal, Samana Suk, Shinawari, Datta, and Kingriali. It was drilled to a depth of 5,170 meters, reaching into the Kingriali Formation.

Wireline log evaluations prompted three earlier cased hole drill stem tests in the Kingriali, Datta, and Samana Suk plus Shinawari formations, each yielding oil and gas discoveries. The latest findings in the Lumshiwal Formation underscore the block's commercial viability and hydrocarbon potential.

OGDC holds a 65 percent working interest in the Nashpa Exploration Licence, collaborating with Pakistan Petroleum Limited, which holds 30 percent, and Government Holdings (Private) Limited, with a 5 percent carried interest. This discovery is expected to bolster Pakistan's energy security by increasing local hydrocarbon production, thereby aiding in reducing the country's energy supply-demand gap.