PPL Plans $40 Million Deep Drilling at Sui Gas Field to Explore New Gas Reserves
ISLAMABAD, November 11, 2026: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) plans to invest up to $40 million in deep exploratory drilling at the Sui gas field in Balochistan, targeting potential natural gas resources beneath the existing field.
The project is scheduled for fiscal year 2027–28 and forms part of PPL’s efforts to counter declining production from mature gas fields.
According to Business Recorder, citing an Arif Habib Limited report, PPL discussed the project during its latest analyst briefing.
PPL’s Sui Gas Field Drilling Project
The proposed exploration well will reach a depth of approximately 6,000 metres.
| Project Detail | Planned Figure |
|---|---|
| Investment | $35–40 million |
| Drilling depth | 6,000 metres |
| Potential gas target | 2 trillion cubic feet |
| Target year | FY2027–28 |
| Location | Sui, Balochistan |
The project presents technical challenges because drilling at such depths may involve extremely high temperatures and pressures.
Importantly, the 2 TCF figure represents a potential exploration target, not a confirmed gas discovery.
Why Is PPL Exploring Deeper Gas Reserves?
PPL’s mature gas fields are experiencing natural production declines of approximately 8–9% annually.
The company is therefore exploring deeper formations and developing existing discoveries to sustain domestic production.
Sui has been an important source of natural gas for Pakistan for decades.
Successful exploration could improve the country’s long-term gas resource position, although commercial production would require further testing and development.
PPL Expects Higher Gas Production in FY2027
PPL projects production of approximately 680 million cubic feet of gas equivalent per day (MMscfde) in FY2027, compared with 649 MMscfde in FY2026.
The company expects additional output from several discoveries and development projects.
These include Baragzai, Latif-25, Makori East, Tolanj West and Rehman-9.
The projected FY2027 increase is separate from the proposed Sui deep-drilling project, which is planned for FY2028.
New Gas Processing Plants Planned
PPL is also advancing two processing facilities.
| Project | Expected Start | Planned Initial Output |
|---|---|---|
| Zafir Gas Processing Plant | December 2026 | 20 MMcfd |
| Pateji Plant, Sujawal | June 2027 | 16 MMcfd |
Zafir’s output is expected to increase to 40 MMcfd in a later phase.
PPL holds a 65% working interest in the Zafir project.
Will the Project Reduce Gas Shortages in Pakistan?
Additional domestic gas production could strengthen supply and reduce reliance on imported energy.
However, the Sui project remains at the planning stage.
It will not provide immediate relief from gas shortages or automatically reduce household gas bills.
Its eventual impact depends on successful drilling, commercially recoverable gas and future development decisions.