Bad weather forces EMP to shut down E. Java offshore oilfield

ISX-listed oil and gas firm PT Energi Mega Persada (EMP) has temporarily shut down its Sepanjang oilfield in Kangean PSC offshore East Java after bad weather and strong wind hit the field?s floating storage facility, an official with upstream oil, gas authority said on Tuesday.

BPMIGAS' spokesperson Amir Hamzah said that Concorde FSO loaded with 200,000 barrels of crude went adrift on Dec. 26, 2007, forcing the block's operator to shut down the only well at the field, which normally produces 4,000 barrels per day.

Amir said the FSO could finally be rescued and is now waiting for calm weather condition before being tied back to its normal position. He corrected earlier statement by another BPMIGAS official that the FSO was leaked after being hit by supply boat. ?There is no leak at the FSO,? he said.

He did could not give estimate when the field is expected to resume production. ?All depends on weather condition,? he said.

EMP has 50 percent indirect interest in Kangean PSC through Kangean Energi Indonesia with Japanese firms Japex and Mitsubishi holding the balance. (alex)