Recently a local newspaper, Dawn, quoted one of the Caretaker
Federal Ministers about an imminent elephant find along Iran-Pakistan
border.
Possibly a result of confusion in reading technical details,
the claim is misplaced at best, warranting a corrigendum form the relevant
people.
In short, the news is incorrect:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1424804
Fact: currently, there is no drilling activity underway
around the mentioned region. However, chances of a find in the future cannot be
ruled out.
ExxonMobil, which is named in the news item as
explorer:
Fact: the Oil Major did enter into Pakistan's Oil & Gas
Exploration landscape very recently as a 25% partner for an upcoming offshore
endeavor.
However, the Company and its partners are yet to dig the
designated hole. PPL, OGDC, and ENI are the other 3 partners who will try their
luck with Exploration Well Kekra-1 to test the high potential Indus G Block,
latest by January 2019. The well was planned in the past also but got delayed.
When the Exploratory Well is drilled, only then experts will
be in a position to comment on various possibilities and future course of
action with some certainty.
In the meantime, we can keep our fingers crossed!
Muzzammil
Useful Links:
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1721191/2-exxonmobil-acquires-25-stake-offshore-drilling-pakistan/
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/334062-e-p-companies-plan-offshore-drilling-in-january-2019
http://wiki.aapg.org/Reserves_estimation
