Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) announced on Tuesday that it had discovered hydrocarbon reserves from its exploratory well LAL X-1, located in District Kashmore, Sindh.

The development was shared in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday.

 “Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), the operator of Kandhkot Development and Production Lease (D&PL) has made an unconventional gas discovery from the Lower Alabaster Formation at its exploratory well LAL X-1, located in the district of Kashmore, Sindh.

 “This is the first discovery from exploration target Lower Alabaster Formation in Kandhkot D&PL by PPL as an operator with 100% working interest,” read the notice.

Unconventional gas discovery refers to finding natural gas trapped in tight rock formations (like shale or sandstone) or coal seams, requiring advanced techniques like hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling to extract, unlike conventional gas that flows easily from porous reservoirs.

The well LAL X-1 was spudded on 30th June, 2025 and drilled down to 1,408 metres MD BKB to test the hydrocarbon potential of interbedded limestone beds of Lower Alabaster Formation.

 “During post-completion testing, the well flowed at the rate of 0.138 MMscfd gas against Wellhead Flowing Pressure (WHFP) 33 psig at 64/64” choke.

 “The well results confirm the presence of hydrocarbon potential in the Lower Alabaster Formation. The commerciality will be ascertained based on the post-well analysis and the results of future exploration wells for Lower Alabaster Play,” PPL added.

Last month, PPL discovered hydrocarbon reserves from its exploratory well Sawan North Deep-1 ST-1 (SND-1 ST-1), located in District Khairpur, Sindh.