?Explosion? at Pertamina-PetroChina JOB field cause panic

Villagers living around the Lengowangi-1 field in Gresik regency, East Java owned by Joint Operating Body Pertamina-PetroChina East Java (JOB PPEJ) got panicked Sunday evening after hearing two small explosions caused by flare gas from the field, Kompas reported on Tuesday.

After finding out that the sound coming from the exploration field, those living close to the field fled their homes or took their children to relatives living faraway from the field.

Some of the villagers then held a demonstration near the field, demanding a meeting with PetroChina?s management.

JOB-PPEJ field manager Victory Surya Kirana apologized to the villagers and signed a statement in which the company pledge to meet Gresik regent Robach Ma?sum to guarantee security for people living near the field.

Also, PetroChina will allow the local people to supervise the field?s operation in order to ensure that the field?s operation would pose danger to the locals.

Dodi Hidayat, operational deputy of oil and gas upstream authority BP Migas, confirmed the incident, saying the gas kick was small and the JOB PPEJ was seeking to extinguish the fire.

?I have asked PPEJ to explain to the public that there is no problem and the gas is deliberately burned for security reason so that the people do not get panicked,? Dodi told Petromindo.Com.

The field is part of Tuban block. (Godang)