ConocoPhillips told to improve E. Java gas field PoD

US oil, gas firm ConocoPhillips was ordered by upstream oil and gas authority BPMIGAS to improve Plan of Development of an oil field offshore East Java as the former did not take into account commercialization of significant associated gas from the field an official said on Thursday.

BPMIGAS Deputy Chairman in Charge of Planning Ahmad Lutfi told Petromindo.Com that ConocoPhillips was ordered to take into account commercialization of some 60MMCFD of associated gas that would be produced under the PoD to build Bukit Tua oil field in Ketapang PSC.

?ConocoPhillips was told to include associated gas commercialization in the PoD,? he said, adding that such amount of gas would be significant to ease East Java gas supply shortage situation.

He did not say the volume of crude would be produced from the field, but Chairman Kardaya Warnika in an earlier statement said that Bukit Tua could produce up to 20,000 BPD when fully developed.

ConocoPhillips is the block operator with 50 percent working interest, with Petronas holding the balance. Industry sources said that ConocoPhillips is in the process of giving up its entire interest in the PSC to Petronas in return of interest in Petronas block(s). (godang)