BP completes seismic surveys on West Aru I and II

By Godang Sitompul

British energy giant BP Plc has completed 3D seismic surveys on West Aru I and West Aru II PSCs, two deepwater blocks in Arafura Sea, West Papua and is now evaluating the results of the surveys, according to upstream authority SKK Migas.

?Surveys on West Aru I and West Aru II have been just completed, in September 2013 to be exact. The surveys were carried out on 5600 square kilometers. The (data) processing is ongoing,? Arief Fanzuri, Head of Survey and Drilling Division at SKK Migas, told Petromindo.com on Tuesday.

BP has also planned 2D seismic survey along 100 km on North Arafura block in Papua, but it has yet to start the survey due to ?security concerns?, Arief said, providing details about the security concerns. The North Arafura block is located close the copper and gold mine of PT Freeport Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Indro Purwarman, Exploration Division Head at SKK Migas, explained that the processing of seismic data from West Aru I and West Aru II may take six months since ?the data volume is big?. It will be followed by an interpretation process which may take six months.

?Thus, it takes at least one year before BP can make a drilling proposal since the risk is relatively high,? Indro said.

With regards North Arafura block, Indro said BP has budgeted seismic survey on the block for this year. The time is however still uncertain due to ?security factors?.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon