Amerada Hess plans two exploration wells in 2006

Amerada Hess Indonesia has proposed to the government to drill one exploration well in Pangkah block offshore East Java and another one in Jambi Merang block on the lands of Jambi next year, a company official said Tuesday.

?For 2006, we plan to drill the Hayam Wuruk well in Pangkah and the Surya Kemuning well in Jambi Merang,? said the company President and General Manager Colin Munro.

Amerada holds a 78 percent working interest in the Pangkah PSC, while the remaining is held by ConocoPhillips. Amerada has signed a 20 year gas supply contract with state-owned electricity firm PT PLN for the supply of a total of 440 billion cubic feet of gas from the block?s Ujung Pangkah field. First gas is expected to be delivered at the end of 2006.

Meanwhile, the Jambi Merang block include the Gelam field, which is now in production, and the Pulau Gading and Sungai Kenawang fields, which are currently in the pre-development stage. Amerada holds the operatorship of the block with a 25 percent working interest. (godang)