Is the kismet of Karachi going to take a dramatic turn on becoming an oil or gas field in the near future? The answer will lies in the results of a seismic survey that is to be carried out shortly by a consortium comprising three international oil, gas exploration and development (E&D) companies as well as the state. UNOCAL, Edison and the Union Texas Pakistan (UTP), the operator of Pakistan's largest oil field at Badin, are the constituents of the consortium that has acquired 2,328 square kilometres of Karachi Urban Block Petroleum concession. The potential is high in view of the oil and gas history of Karachi. In 1950 two wells were spudded in the area successfully, oil experts said.