Italian energy group Eni SpA (E) said Wednesday it has made a significant gas discovery onshore Pakistan , located in the Khirtar Fold Belt region, 350 kilometers north of Karachi .

The size of the discovery is currently estimated at between 300 and 400 billion cubic feet of gas in place and its delineation will require further appraisal wells, Eni said in a statement.

"The drilling of Badhra North B-1 is part of Eni's new strategy in Pakistan which aims to refocus exploration activities in the neighboring areas to productive fields and confirms the presence of significant exploration potential that can be exploited through the application of new geological models," the Italian group added.

Eni said it has started discussion with the Pakistani regulator in order to speed up the production of the discovery through a long-term production test that will allow for the commercialization of gas, and help to reduce the national gas deficit.

Eni has been present in Pakistan since 2000 and is the largest producer in the country, with an average equity production at approximately 54,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2011.

Διαβάστε ακόμα