BP to conduct West Aru 3D seismic in Q4

By Bernard Loebs

BP will conduct a survey and 3D marine seismic in around 9,000 kilometer of West Aru I and West Aru II offshore blocks in the fourth quarter of this year.

Division Head of Public Relations, Security, and Formality at Upstream Authority BPMIGAS, I Gde Pradnyana, told Petromindo.com in Jakarta on Friday that currently BP West Aru I and BP West Aru II were conducting tenders of survey services and marine seismic procurement.

The Indonesian government awarded 100 percent interests in the offshore West Aru I and West Aru II Blocks in Arafura Sea to BP in November last year.

The two blocks are located approximately 500 kilometres southwest of the BP-operated North Arafura PSC and 200 km west of the Aru island group in the Maluku province of Indonesia. The West Aru I PSC covers an area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres and the West Aru II PSC covers an area of approximately 8,300 square kilometres. The two blocks have water depths ranging between 200 meters and 2,500 meters.

?In the past two years BP has deepened its involvement in Indonesia through access to four coalbed methane PSCs in Kalimantan and three conventional gas blocks in Papua. These two new blocks are strong additions to this portfolio and will benefit from BP?s expertise in deepwater exploration. We appreciate the continued support and confidence of the Government of Indonesia,? said William Lin, BP's Regional President for Asia Pacific.

Including the award of these blocks, BP has gained access to 69 new license blocks in 11 countries around the world since October 2010, including the Kalimantan coalbed methane and North Arafura blocks in Indonesia. The company plans to double its spending on exploration worldwide over the next few years.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.