Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) discovered gas and condensate from an exploratory well in the Sujawal district of Sindh [1, 2].
This find is significant because it opens a new hydrocarbon play in the Lower Indus Basin. By accessing the Jurassic-age Chiltan Formation for the first time, the company aims to expand the domestic gas resources available to Pakistan [1, 2].
The announcement regarding the discovery was made on Monday, July 29, 2026 [2]. The well is located within the Sirani Block in the Lower Indus Basin, where PPL has been conducting exploratory operations to identify new energy reserves [1, 2].
Reports on the specific identity of the well vary between sources. One report identifies the exploratory well as Dolphin X-1 [1], while another identifies it as Rahi X-1 [2]. Additionally, some reporting indicates the discovery extends the success previously seen at the Shah Bandar well [2].
The Chiltan Formation is a geological layer from the Jurassic period. Finding hydrocarbons in this specific formation suggests that other areas within the Lower Indus Basin may hold similar untapped reserves, potentially reducing the country's reliance on energy imports.
PPL has not provided specific volume estimates for the gas and condensate found at the site. The company continues to evaluate the well to determine the full commercial viability of the discovery [1, 2].
“The discovery marks the first hydrocarbon find from the Jurassic-age Chiltan Formation.”
The discovery of hydrocarbons in the Chiltan Formation represents a geological breakthrough for Pakistan's energy sector. By proving that the Jurassic-age layers of the Lower Indus Basin can produce gas and condensate, PPL has shifted the exploration map, potentially unlocking vast areas of the basin that were previously overlooked. If these results can be replicated across the region, it could provide a critical buffer against volatile global energy prices and improve national energy security.
