Conoco's Belanak expected to commence oil production in Nov

Belanak floating production storage offloading (FPSO) is expected to commence oil production from Block B offshore West Natuna at a initial rate of 10,000 - 15,000 barrels per day (BPD) in November, according to a government official.

"Oil production will ramp up to 60,000 after 2007 following a further development on Belanak field," Bambang Dwiyanto, an expert at Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources told reporters on Wednesday.

Block B is operated by US based oil company ConocoPhillips. According to Bambang, the operator is planned to develop the block with a total of US$1.58 billion in expenditure.

Belanak FPSO is in integration phase of the hull with a 25,000-ton of topsides at PT McDermott Indonesia's quayside in Batam.

Bambang said the FPSO is expected to be arrived at Belanak field in August.

The FPSO has capacity to process approximately 100,000 BPD of liquids, including cryogenic processing for the production and export of the LPG products, and up to 400 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The hull of FPSO has a storage capacity of one million barrels of oil.

INPEX Natuna Ltd and Texaco South Natuna Sea Inc are ConocoPhillips' co-venturers in the block with 35 percent and 25 percent working interests. (godang)