BPMIGAS yet to receive report on CNOOC?s Palung Aru drilling

By Godang Sitompul

Upstream authority BPMIGAS has yet to receive the formal report of discouraging results of CNOOC?s drilling activities in South East Palung Aru in South East Maluku, Deputy for Planning Haposan Napitupulu said.

?We do record dry hole results of a number of exploration activities in eastern Indonesia,? Haposan told Petromindo.com, but adding that with regard to that the authority has not received an official report from CNOOC over its drilling results in the block.

A source familiar with the CNOOC?s drilling in the area said the company will report dry-hole status results in the block.

?Last week we hit dry-hole when we conduct drilling in South East Palung area. We will report to BPMIGAS,? the source told Petromindo.com.

CNOOC South East Asia Ltd holds 66.5 percent in South East Palung Aru and the remaining 33.5 percent is held by Malaysia?s Petronas Carigali Overseas Sdn Bhd. The two oil and gas companies were awarded to explore the block in 2008.

Editing by Roffie Kurniawan