Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is gearing up to drill the country’s first offshore oil well in March 2026, marking a major shift from decades of onshore exploration to deeper, more complex frontier fields.
The well will be drilled in the Sirani Block, located near Sujawal in Sindh, about 30 kilometres from the mainland, along the country’s southern shoreline. Speaking to Arab News, a senior PPL official said that preparations at the site are in full swing, with drilling expected to begin in March 2026, followed by detailed reservoir evaluation.
If all goes according to plan, initial discovery results are expected around three months after drilling starts. In the event of a successful strike, PPL may drill up to 25 wells in the area, gradually turning Sirani into a major offshore production zone. While officials have avoided giving exact volume estimates, they admit that expectations for oil are “strong”.
Why This Project Matters
Pakistan has current imports of over 60% of its oil needs, leaving the economy highly exposed to global fuel price shocks and currency volatility. A huge offshore discovery could:
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• Add badly needed domestic supply
• Help reduce the oil import bill
• Strengthen energy security and macroeconomic stability
This isn’t just another exploration well — it’s Pakistan’s first serious step into offshore drilling, a domain previously avoided due to technical complexities and high costs.
A Growing Exploration Footprint
PPL has been steadily expanding its footprint along the southern coast. The organization has recently secured eight new exploration blocks:
• Gharo Creek
• Kochi Creek
• Bin Qasim South
• Keti Bandar
• Behr
• Zarrar
• Sapat Bandar
• Offshore Deep D
These blocks, combined with existing assets, reinforce PPL’s role as a core player in Pakistan’s energy sector, already supplying around 20% of the country’s natural gas, along with crude oil, NGLs and LPG.
Officials say the prospectivity of Sirani Block is linked to Block C, around 70 kilometres away and operated by Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), which holds a 25% working interest there. An oil discovery at Sirani would not only be a win for Pakistan but could also boost confidence in nearby offshore acreage.
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Engineering Around a Difficult Coastline
The Sirani site is not an easy place to work. The terrain is marshy, tidal, and technically challenging — one of the main reasons exploration here was delayed for so long.
To overcome this, PPL has begun extensive infrastructure development, including:
• Construction of jetties and logistics channels
• Development of an access road through marshland
• Use of a 17-kilometre natural channel to transport drilling equipment
In a filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, PPL said that both the access road and the well pad are being raised by about nine feet to withstand tidal shifts and seasonal flooding. Once completed, the elevated pad will be able to host up to 250 personnel during drilling operations.
These measures show how much planning and investment is required before a single drop of oil is found.
High Risk, High Reward
Offshore exploration is always a high-risk, high-reward game. Drilling is expensive, the environment is harsh, and success is never guaranteed. But for Pakistan, the potential upside is enormous:
• Reduced dependence on imported fuel
• More stable energy prices for industry and households
• New jobs, services, and skills in coastal regions
• Stronger confidence of international investors in Pakistan’s energy sector
For communities near Sujawal and the wider region, the project also brings hope of local employment, better infrastructure, and greater economic activity if exploration leads to commercial production.
As March 2026 approaches, all eyes within Pakistan’s energy sector will be on Sirani. What is now a quiet stretch of marsh and tidal flats could, in a few years, become one of the most strategically vital locations in the country’s search for energy independence.