25 companies interested in 'regular tender' blocks

As many as 25 firms have expressed interest in 11 oil and gas blocks offered by the government through regular tender mechanism in the first bidding round of 2010, a Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources official told Petromindo.com on Friday.

The government offers a total of 14 blocks through regular tender mechanism but three of them has thus far failed to attract potential bidders. The three are Sunda Strait II Block, Sunda Strait III Block and Sunda Strait IV Block, all in Sunda Strait.

The 25 interested bidders include BHP, StatOil, Marathon Oil Corp., Niko Resources, Santos and Lundin, the official said.

Meanwhile, of the 6 blocks offered by the government through "direct proposal" mechanism, thus far attracted eleven bidders, the official did not divulge the companies' names.

In July 2010, Directorate General of Oil and Gas released 20 acreages for tender in the 1st Petroleum Bidding Round Year 2010.

The following is the list of the 14 blocks being offered through regular tender mechanism:
1. Sokang Block, offshore Natuna
2. South Sokang Block, offshore Natuna
3. South East Baronang Block, offshore Natuna
4. Nias Block, offshore North Sumatra
5. Sunda Strait II Block, offshore Sunda Strait
6. Sunda Strait III Block, offshore Sunda Strait
7. Sunda Strait IV Block, offshore Sunda Strait
8. South Kangean I Block, offshore East Java
9. South Kangean II Block, offshore East Java
10. South West Makasar Block, offshore South Sulawesi
11. North Bone Block, onshore/offshore South Sulawesi
12. Wokam I Block, offshore Papua
13. Wokam II Block, offshore Papua
14. Digul Block, onshore Papua

The six blocks offered through the direct proposal mechanism are as follows:
1. North Sokang Block, offshore Natuna
2. East Baronang Block, offshore Natuna
3. Titan Block, offshore East Java
4. Bone Block, offshore Bone Bay
5. Onin Block, offshore/onshore West Papua
6. North Arafura Block, offshore/onshore Papua

When announcing the tender last month, the Directorate General of Oil and Gas said interested parties are given until Nov. 5, 2010 to access regular tender's bid documents, while direct proposal's bid documents can be accessed not later than Aug. 24, 2010.

Interested companies should submit their Participating Documents on Nov. 8, 2010 (for regular tender) and on Aug. 25, 2010 (for direct proposal tender) (godang)