BPMIGAS okays Santos? E. Java gas field PoD

Upstream oil, gas authority BPMIGAS said it has approved plan of development (POD) submitted by Australian oil, gas company Santos Limited to develop Wortel gas field offshore East Java.

?The PoD for Wortel has been approved,? Deputy Chairman Achmad Luthfi told Petromindo.Com on Friday.

The field is located in Sampang PSC, where Santos holds 40.5 percent working interest. The field is adjacent to Oyong oil, gas producing field, which is also located within the PSC.

Cue Energy, a partner in Sampang PSC said earlier that development of Wortel would consist of a well head platform on the field, with two deviated development wells, and a pipeline to the Oyong facilities, 7kms to the east.

Wortel has recoverable reserves of between 60-130BCF and is expected to start production in 2011.

Santos said in February 2008 that Wortel would be able to produce gas at the rate of 40-60 MMCFD.

Estimated capital expenditure to develop the Wortel gas field is US$100 million, Cue said in November 2009. (bernard)