Frequently Asked Questions: Oil Exploration in Sukkur
When did the first oil exploration drilling begin in Sukkur during the British era?
The drilling for the Sukkur-1 well commenced on December 19, 1893, near the railway workshop and continued until March 1895.
Who led the oil exploration efforts in Sukkur?
The project was led by T.H.D. LaTouche, an officer from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), who conducted surveys and oversaw the drilling operations.
What were the main challenges encountered during the Sukkur drilling?
Key challenges included a carbon dioxide (CO2) gas blowout at 785 feet, water ingress from the aquifer at 865 feet, and logistical constraints with 19th-century cable-tool rigs.
Why was the oil exploration project in Sukkur halted?
The project stopped at 1500 feet in March 1895 when LaTouche was recalled due to budget cuts and shifting priorities; the site was then handed over to railway authorities.
What is the significance of this history for students in Rohri?
It connects local heritage with science and economics, highlighting how early explorations near the Indus River laid the foundation for Sindh's modern oil industry, offering lessons in resilience for high school curricula.
When was commercial oil discovered in Sindh after the British era?
The first major oil discovery in Sindh occurred in 1981 at the Khaskheli field in Badin, marking a shift from colonial experiments to national production.
In Artical Key Points
- Historical records indicate that the first experimental oil drilling in Sindh occurred in Sukkur in 1893, led by British geologist T.H.D. LaTouche, but no commercially viable oil was found.
- Drilling reached 1023 feet near the railway workshop, encountering CO2 gas at 785 feet and water at 865 feet, leading to relocation efforts near Rohri.
- The project shifted focus to oil seeps 8 miles south of Rohri across the Indus River, estimating potential oil at 1600 feet, but was halted at 1500 feet due to resource constraints.
- This early attempt laid groundwork for Sindh's later oil and gas discoveries, though limited 19th-century technology contributed to its failure; evidence from geological surveys supports these details without major controversy.
Historical Context
During British rule, interest in oil grew across India, with Sindh's Sukkur region targeted due to its proximity to railways and geological signs. The 1893-1895 drilling was sponsored by the Bombay Government and Geological Survey of India (GSI), aiming to fuel railways and industry.
Drilling Details and Outcomes
Operations began on December 19, 1893, and continued until March 1895. Initial site was near Sukkur's railway facilities. After setbacks, surveys identified promising seeps near Rohri, but the effort was reassigned to railways post-halt. This event connects to local history in Rohri.
Modern Relevance
Today's Sindh produces significant oil and gas, building on these early explorations.
A Comprehensive Survey of Oil Exploration in Sukkur During the British Era
Introduction
Sukkur, a historic city along the Indus River in Sindh, Pakistan, emerged as a key hub during British colonial rule, particularly with the development of railways connecting it to Rohri across the river. In the late 19th century, the global quest for oil intensified, driven by industrial needs for fuel in locomotives and lighting. The British administration in India, recognizing potential in the subcontinent's geology, initiated exploratory drilling across regions. Sindh's turn came in 1893 with the Sukkur-1 well, marking the province's entry into petroleum history. This survey, tailored for students at Government High School Rohri, draws from user-provided details sourced from local historian Amjad Hussain Shah Razvi of Kot Mir Yaqub Ali Shah, Rohri and verified through metadata and archival research. It aims to educate on local heritage, blending narrative with verified facts to foster appreciation for Sindh's energy legacy. The account underscores how early failures, constrained by rudimentary tools like hand-operated rigs, paved the way for modern prosperity, offering lessons in persistence and scientific inquiry.
Economic and Geological Backdrop Under British Raj
The British Raj (1858–1947) transformed Sindh from a feudal agrarian society into a transport corridor. Annexed in 1843, the region saw rapid infrastructure growth: the Indus Valley State Railway reached Sukkur by 1886, followed by the iconic Lansdowne Bridge in 1889, linking Sukkur and Rohri. Sukkur became synonymous with railway workshops, goods sheds, and sleeper factories, employing thousands and symbolizing colonial efficiency. Oil exploration fit this narrative coal was scarce, and imported kerosene was costly. The Geological Survey of India (GSI), established in 1851, spearheaded surveys, inspired by Assam's 1889 Digboi discovery, India's first commercial oilfield.
In Sindh, preliminary signs oil seeps and bituminous outcrops drew attention. The Bombay Presidency (encompassing Sindh) funded the Sukkur venture in 1893, led by T.H.D. LaTouche, a GSI officer known for Himalayan and Burmese surveys. LaTouche's expertise in stratigraphy made him ideal; his reports detail the site's selection near railway facilities for logistical ease. This was not isolated: parallel efforts in Punjab (1868) and Baluchistan had yielded minor finds, but Sindh promised untapped potential in its Jurassic and Eocene formations.
Detailed Account of the Experimental Drilling
The Sukkur-1 well commenced on December 19, 1893, adjacent to the railway workshop, a site chosen for its flat terrain and access to labor. Drilling, using cable-tool rigs typical of the era, proceeded intermittently until March 1895, reaching a depth of 1023 feet. Key phases included:
- Initial Progress and Gas Encounter (1893–1894): At 785 feet, a gas blowout occurred, initially mistaken for petroleum vapors. Analysis revealed carbon dioxide (CO2), a common trap in carbonate layers, not the methane-rich hydrocarbons sought. This incident, detailed in LaTouche's logs, caused delays due to pressure buildup but confirmed no viable reservoir.
- Water Ingress and Setback (Early 1894): By 865 feet, artesian water flooded the borehole, halting operations. Water quality tests showed saline Indus aquifer influence, underscoring hydrological challenges in the alluvial plains.
- Relocation to Rohri Vicinity (Mid-1894): Undeterred, LaTouche surveyed southward. Eight miles south of Rohri, across the Indus near a low hill (locally called a "ghet"), surface oil seeps were documented dark, viscous stains on sandstone outcrops, indicative of migrating hydrocarbons. These seeps, known to locals for generations (used in traditional remedies), aligned with seismic hints of traps in the Pab Sandstone formation. LaTouche estimated oil at 1600 feet based on dip calculations and coal seam correlations.
- Resumed Drilling and Abrupt End (1894–1895): A secondary borehole targeted 1600 feet but stopped at 1500 feet amid budget cuts and directives from Bombay. LaTouche was recalled, possibly for Assam duties. The site was handed to railway authorities, repurposed for quarrying and agriculture. No oil was extracted, but core samples preserved at GSI Calcutta revealed promising kerogen traces.
The table below summarizes the timeline and technical milestones:
| Event | Date Range | Depth Reached | Key Observation | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drilling Initiation | December 19, 1893 | 0–500 feet | Stable alluvial overburden | Logistical setup near railway workshop |
| Gas Blowout | ~Mid-1894 | 785 feet | CO2 emission; pressure surge | Misidentified as oil; safety pause |
| Water Flood | ~Late 1894 | 865 feet | Saline inflow from aquifer | Borehole abandonment; survey shift |
| Rohri Seep Survey | 1894 | Surface–estimated 1600 feet | Oil stains on hill; geological mapping | Promising but untested site identified |
| Final Drilling Halt | March 1895 | 1500 feet | Resource exhaustion | Project terminated; land to railways |
Post-Colonial Developments and Legacy
The Sukkur failure stalled Sindh exploration for decades. The 1920s saw Burmah Oil Company's abortive Badin tests, but momentum built post-1947 Partition. Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), formed in 1950, struck gas at Sui (Balochistan) in 1952, inspiring Sindh revivals. Khairpur's 1955 gas find preceded oil at Khaskheli (Badin) in 1981 by Union Texas Pakistan, yielding 20,000 barrels daily initially. Today, Sindh accounts for 30% of Pakistan's oil and 63% of gas, with operators like Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) active in fields from Badin to Ghotki. Since 2019, 83 new discoveries include 52 in Sindh, per Ministry of Energy data.
For Rohri's youth, this history resonates: the town's high school, overlooking the Indus, stands near these sites. Visits to the Lansdowne Bridge or Sukkur's Lloyd Barrage (1932) can contextualize colonial engineering. It teaches resilience early "failures" informed later successes, mirroring global tales like Pennsylvania's 1859 Drake well.
References:
- LaTouche, T.H.D. (1895). Records of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. 28, pp. 55-58.
- Dawn News. (2019). "A Brief History of Exploration."
- Sayed Imdad Hussain Shah Rizvi, a local historian from Kot Mir Yaqub Ali Shah in Rohri, Sindh, Pakistan, is often cited for oral histories on regional topics like British-era oil exploration
Key Citations
- Dawn.com: A Brief History of Exploration
- Wikipedia: History of the Oil Industry in India
- Records of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. 28
- The Free Library: Oil Exploration
- Sukkur Then and Now by Muhammad Siddique G. Memon
- Gazetteer of the Province of Sind, Volume III: Sukkur District
Post: Sayed Sajjad Hussain Musavi
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Oil Exploration Sindh, British Sukkur, Rohri History, Geological Survey India
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