Pakistan has recorded another oil and gas discovery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as it pushes to strengthen domestic energy production and cut down on expensive fuel imports.

State-owned Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) disclosed that its exploratory well, Baragzai X-01 (Slant), located in the Kohat district, has started producing both crude oil and natural gas.

According to the company, the well is currently yielding about 3,100 barrels of crude oil per day alongside roughly 8.15 million standard cubic feet of gas daily.
OGDCL confirmed the discovery after completing a successful cased hole drill stem test in the Samana Suk and Shinawari formations. The company said the well flowed at strong pressure during testing, indicating commercially viable output.

The latest find marks the third discovery at the Baragzai X-01 well within a month. Earlier this year, hydrocarbons were identified in the Datta Formation, while the first discovery at the site was announced in December.

OGDCL said the new reserves would help ease Pakistan’s widening energy supply gap and expand the country’s overall hydrocarbon base, benefiting both the company and its joint venture partners.

Collectively, discoveries from the Baragzai field are estimated to add about 9,480 barrels of oil per day, representing nearly 15 per cent of Pakistan’s current domestic crude production, which stands at around 66,000 barrels per day.
The development comes as Pakistan ramps up efforts to boost local oil and gas output amid ongoing economic pressure.

Over the past year, the government has signed several exploration agreements covering offshore and onshore blocks with local and international firms. It has also auctioned dozens of offshore blocks, drawing interest from multiple consortia, including Turkey’s state-owned energy company.

Officials say these exploration initiatives could attract hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, with total spending potentially reaching $1 billion if commercial production is achieved.