Drilling at Citarum PSC temporarily halted on incident

UK-based oil, gas firm Sound Oil said on Monday that incident that occurred on a rig during drilling at Citarum PSC, onshore West Java has caused the block?s operator to temporarily delay drilling activities.

The company said the incident occurred during the drilling of the Pasundan-1 exploration well on 12 May 2007. ? While operating below the 30-inch conductor, damage occurred to surface facilities of the rig caused by uncontrolled movement of equipment. There were no injuries to any personnel on the rig or the wellsite, downhole conditions remained stable and there was no impact on the environment? the company said.

Currently the Operator is dealing with the incident according to its agreed accident investigation procedures and is preparing the necessary report to BPMigas, the regulatory authority. A full inspection of the damage to the rig and an estimate of repairs are being undertaken. The Operator's preliminary estimate is that repairs will take approximately 10 days.?

No one was hurt in the incident said the company.

Pasundan - 1 well was being drilled using the Great Wall Rig 93 rig to a prognosed total depth of 10,322 ft and is targeting a hydrocarbon prospect at three potential reservoir levels. The operation was originally expected to take a minimum of 48 days, the company said.

Sound Oil plc is a 20 percent participant in Citarum block as a 20 percent shareholder in PT Bumi Parahyangan Ranhill Energia Citarum (BPREC), the operator of the block. (alex)