Karachi offshore Oilfield size

[TNT]

Honorable Sir,

Before I post my comments on your reply, for the benefit of PDF members, permit to write a few words about the geological survey of Baluchistan.

Baluchistan, as well as the Makran coast, has been surveyed over the years. First major geological survey was conducted over a 14 year period between 1956 & 1970 under an agreement dated October 1955 between GOP & Agency for International Development, US State Department which included detailed mapping of & appraisal of mineral districts and reconnaissance of unmapped areas of Baluchistan. It was published as:

GEOLOGY AND COPPER MINERALIZATION OF THE SAINDAK QUADRANGLE, CHAGAI DISTRICT, WEST PAKISTAN by WAHEEDUDDIN AHMED, SHAHID NOOR KHAN/ and ROBERT G. SCHMIDT

During the last five decades, several tectonic models have also been proposed by various researchers to explain the geologic setting viz-a-viz hydrocarbon potential of the south-western part of Pakistan and the Baluchistan Basin consisting of Chaghai Volcanic Arc, Kharan-Mashkhel -Panjgur Trough, and the Makran Flysch Basin. (Flysch basin refers to the sedimentary rock layers that progress from deep-water and from the flows by avalanches, lava flow deposits etc to the shallow-water shales and sandstones.

Most recent paper to the best of my knowledge was:

“Hydrocarbon Prospects of Baluchistan Basin Revisited - Delineation of New Horizon for the Discovery of Hydrocarbons in South-western Part of Pakistan”. Moin Raza Khan, Noushaba Hisam, Abid Hussain Baitu and Nayyer Alam Zaigham Search and Discovery of January 17, 2012.

Oil is normally found in the sedimentary basins and the Makran forms part of the coastal basin, where more than 6 km thick layer of sediment lies over (possibly) dead marine life ( source of oil & gas). There are also gas seepages in the Siahan range in central Makran. Additionally, Hamun-i-Mashkhel in Kharan district limestone of Eocene age has the kind of rocks where hydrocarbon reservoirs could be present.

It is because of this that exploratory oil wells have drilled in Baluchistan since the early 20th century. First well was drilled by Burmah Oil in the Les Bela district in 1916. Thus far about a dozen exploratory wells have been drilled in the Southern & Central Baluchistan including offshore wells.

Jalpari-1 an offshore exploratory well was drilled by Marathon, 1977. Ocean Energy (USA) drilled two more wells during 2000-01. PPL drilled an exploration well: Pasni X-2 in Mekran offshore area to test the Hydrocarbon potential of Panjgur sandstone. Unfortunately, all of these attempts failed to find commercially viable deposits of hydrocarbons.

Please understand that I am not against the oil exploration in Baluchistan because there are reasonably good prospects to find oil and/or gas there. By all means, drill next to the Iranian border if the geological data show a strong possibility of the presence of oil.

My main objection is against the mindset & presumption that commonly exists in many Pakistanis that if you drill near the Iran border you will oil. Firstly because there are no major Iranian oil or gas fields next to Pakistan border hence there is not even a remote possibility that an already established oil-bearing rock formation could extend into the Pakistani side. Secondly, because hydrocarbon deposit i.e. oil & gas reservoir is not like a lake or a river that if you drill next to an existing field it would trickle /seep to your side.

Honorable Sir,

Before I post my comments on your reply, for the benefit of PDF members, permit to write a few words about the geological survey of Baluchistan.

Baluchistan, as well as the Makran coast, has been surveyed over the years. First major geological survey was conducted over a 14 year period between 1956 & 1970 under an agreement dated October 1955 between GOP & Agency for International Development, US State Department which included detailed mapping of & appraisal of mineral districts and reconnaissance of unmapped areas of Baluchistan. It was published as:

GEOLOGY AND COPPER MINERALIZATION OF THE SAINDAK QUADRANGLE, CHAGAI DISTRICT, WEST PAKISTAN by WAHEEDUDDIN AHMED, SHAHID NOOR KHAN/ and ROBERT G. SCHMIDT

During the last five decades, several tectonic models have also been proposed by various researchers to explain the geologic setting viz-a-viz hydrocarbon potential of the south-western part of Pakistan and the Baluchistan Basin consisting of Chaghai Volcanic Arc, Kharan-Mashkhel -Panjgur Trough, and the Makran Flysch Basin. (Flysch basin refers to the sedimentary rock layers that progress from deep-water and from the flows by avalanches, lava flow deposits etc to the shallow-water shales and sandstones.

Most recent paper to the best of my knowledge was:

“Hydrocarbon Prospects of Baluchistan Basin Revisited - Delineation of New Horizon for the Discovery of Hydrocarbons in South-western Part of Pakistan”. Moin Raza Khan, Noushaba Hisam, Abid Hussain Baitu and Nayyer Alam Zaigham Search and Discovery of January 17, 2012.

Oil is normally found in the sedimentary basins and the Makran forms part of the coastal basin, where more than 6 km thick layer of sediment lies over (possibly) dead marine life ( source of oil & gas). There are also gas seepages in the Siahan range in central Makran. Additionally, Hamun-i-Mashkhel in Kharan district limestone of Eocene age has the kind of rocks where hydrocarbon reservoirs could be present.

It is because of this that exploratory oil wells have drilled in Baluchistan since the early 20th century. First well was drilled by Burmah Oil in the Les Bela district in 1916. Thus far about a dozen exploratory wells have been drilled in the Southern & Central Baluchistan including offshore wells.

Jalpari-1 an offshore exploratory well was drilled by Marathon, 1977. Ocean Energy (USA) drilled two more wells during 2000-01. PPL drilled an exploration well: Pasni X-2 in Mekran offshore area to test the Hydrocarbon potential of Panjgur sandstone. Unfortunately, all of these attempts failed to find commercially viable deposits of hydrocarbons.

Please understand that I am not against the oil exploration in Baluchistan because there are reasonably good prospects to find oil and/or gas there. By all means, drill next to the Iranian border if the geological data show a strong possibility of the presence of oil.

My main objection is against the mindset & presumption that commonly exists in many Pakistanis that if you drill near the Iran border you will oil. Firstly because there are no major Iranian oil or gas fields next to Pakistan border hence there is not even a remote possibility that an already established oil-bearing rock formation could extend into the Pakistani side. Secondly, because hydrocarbon deposit i.e. oil & gas reservoir is not like a lake or a river that if you drill next to an existing field it would trickle /seep to your side.

Many thanks for the informative share. I agree some people have that assertion. I guess its all to do with pakistanis loving conspiracies. My point was we should keep funding for exploration, i think ud agree on this too.