It was reported in December 2019 that Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL) has assigned 2.5% working interest in Kulachi 3170-8 EL (Indus Basin) onshore concession to Government Holdings Pvt. Ltd (GHPL) and the transaction has been backdated making it effective from 7 January 2015, which is the award date for this concession. The revised equity split is as follows: OGDCL 97.5% (operator) and GHPL 2.5%. The block covers an area of 2,495 sq km and is located in the Dera Ismail Khan, Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It was exclusively awarded to OGDCL with the signing of Petroleum Concession Agreement (PCA) on 7 January 2015.     OGDCL conducted 2D seismic survey (dynamite / vibroseis source) in the Kulachi EL from October 2017 to February 2018 acquiring a total of 178 line km data. The company had earlier acquired 1,078 line km 2D seismic (dynamite source) in the block from December 2015 to November 2016.Â   Â   Background Information  The block was offered under the 2012 Licensing Round, which was launched from 11 October 2012 to 10 March 2013. 58 blocks were offered and a total of 66 bids were received for 50 blocks from various companies, whereas eight blocks did not receive any bid. OGDCL was the highest bidder in 28 blocks, whereas Pakistan Petroleum Ltd (PPL) was believed to be a highest bidder in nine blocks and Pakistan Oilfields Ltd (POL) in five blocks. Al Haj and Oil & Gas Investment Ltd (OGIL) were the highest bidders in two blocks each, whereas Ocean Pakistan Ltd (OPL), OMV-PPL, TRI and Mari Petroleum Pakistan Ltd (MPCL) were the highest bidders in one block each. As a result of this bidding round, the E&P Companies had committed to invest a minimum finacial expenditure of around USD 372 million (PKR 37 billion).  It is understood that Ocean Pakistan Ltd (OPL) was the highest bidder for Kulachi EL block and OGDCL had submitted the rival bid during the licensing round, but the OPLâs application is believed to have been subsequently rejected.  OGDCL was granted a one-year extension to the Kulachi EL from 7 January 2018 to 6 January 2019. It was followed by a further one-year extension from 7 January 2019 to 6 January 2020.
GHPL has taken a 2,5% interest from OGDC (->95,45% op, KPOGCL 2,05%) in the Kulachi 3170-8 EL block (2495kmÂ²). 