Exspan testing South Sumatra delineation well

Following a discovery earlier in the first quarter of 2002, PT Exspan Nusantara is testing the Jata-2 delineation well in the South Sumatra Extension PSC using the "Emsco" rig, IHS Energy reported Thursday.

The report said Jata-2 had been drilled to a total depth of at 1,643m from the same location as Jata-1, targeting Batu Raja Formation carbonates to the southeast.

Exspan is hoping to prove up the underlying oil associated with the gas cap. Jata-1 was vertically drilled to total depth of 1,413m in an 8-1/2" hole. The Jata-1 well is a gas discovery.

Exspan reported that wildcat discovered the gas cap in a structurally higher area of "possible oil reserves" on the Matra field, 2P reserves (presumed to be recoverable) for which were quoted at 14 millions barrels of oil (MMBO) with 3P (proved plus probable plus possible) reserves of 380 MMBO.

The operator reportedly proposed a plan of development (POD) for Matra, which could be brought onstream by 2003.

PT Exspan Nusantara is a unit of publicly listed oil company PT. Medco Energi International Tbk. (*)