KOHAT, Sept 19: The mixing of underground water into the reserves of gas and oil, discovered at Sheikhan area near Kohat city, has badly affected production from the plant besides causing loss to the company.

The regional coordinator of Oil and Gas Development Company, Mushfiq, told Dawn by telephone on Monday that Sheikhan plant was producing 15 million cubic feet of gas and 40 barrels of oil per day. He said that the gas was injected into the national grid from the plant last year and production was going on smoothly.

“But unfortunately due to mixing of huge quantity of water into gas its production has come down to only one million cubic feet and that of oil to five barrels a day,” he said.

He added that according to earlier surveys there was chance of such a development. The survey proved correct and now the company was running into loss in the area, he said.

Mr Mushfiq said that the natural spring of water erupted suddenly in the area. However, in other parts of Kohat, OGDCL was doing a roaring business as compared to other companies, he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sheikhan plant of OGDCL is located close to Darra Adamkhel mountains, which are replete with water springs. The construction of tunnel on Indus Highway was also delayed for a decade due to presence of water in the mountains.

The Kohat tunnel, constructed by Japan and known as Friendship Tunnel, has three water springs in the wall on its southern portal but they have been tapped. It is the only tunnel in the world that has water springs. The water gushing out from these springs is stored in tanks to wash the tunnel, vehicles and offices besides irrigating the nearby fields.