Exxon?s deepwater drilling campaign delayed by late rig arrival

Indonesian unit of US oil, gas giant Exxon Mobil Corp. said on Monday that drilling of its Mandar and Surumana deepwater exploration blocks, Makassar Straits would be slightly postponed due to delay in rig arrival.

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI) VP External Relations Maman Budiman told Petromindo.Com that rig move from a South Korean shipyard is delayed to late January from December 2008.

?EMOI, however, will stick on plan to start drilling campaign in the first quarter of 2009,? Maman said.

EMOI plans to drill three wells at each of the block. EMOI has 100 percent interest in both blocks.

Maman earlier said that EMOI has secured a rig owned by Seadrill called West Aquarius - which is currently being assembled at a shipyard in South Korea - for the drilling at both blocks.

According to Maman, the rig will operate in the water depth of 2,000 meters, targeting hydrocarbon reservoir at the depth of 4,000 meters. (godang).