Anadarko in aggressive Indonesian drilling campaign

US oil firm Anadarko petroleum is stepping up its exploration program in Indonesia through series of planned seismic and exploration drilling activities, a company official said on Monday.

Gary W. Ford, President Director of Anadarko Indonesian Company told Petromindo.com in an interview that the company and partners would drill up to 23 wells in 2007-2008 period including 10 wells in recently acquired Bungamas block onshore South Sumatra, where the company is operator and 75 percent interest holder.

The company would also drill 4 wells in North East Madura III block offshore East java and 1 well in Popodi deepwater block offshore East Kalimantan. Anadarko is operator in both blocks.

Anadarko would also plan to drill up to 6 wells in Medco Energi?s working areas under exploration joint venture agreement with Medco. Anadarko in July 2005 signed an exploration joint venture agreement with Medco, under which it is gaining access to Medco's 13 blocks onshore and offshore Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Java and Papua. Anadarko has committed to a three-year work program to fund wildcat exploration activities at a cost of U.S. $80 million in return for opportunity to earn up to a 40 percent interest in each PSC where a successful exploration well is drilled.

Aside from drilling plan, Ford said, Anadarko would also embark on acquisition of 1,500-km 2D seismic, 1600 sq Km 3D seismic and reprocess 3,500-km 2D seismic data.

He did not disclose the investment the company would spend to carry out the exploration campaign.

Anadarko has also non-operated interest in Bukat and Ambalat PSCs offshore East Kalimantan, both are operated by Eni SpA.(alex)