Exxon to start exploration drilling campaign at Cepu

Indonesian unit of US oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. will kick off exploration campaign at the giant Cepu oil block in East Java, a company official said.

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI) VP External Relations Maman Budiman told Petromindo.Com that the company and its partner state oil and gas company PT Pertamina will drill Alas Tua West in the fourth quarter of this year.

?The rig is now ready to be mobilized to the well location,? Maman said.

After completing drilling at Alas Tua West, the rig will continue to drill another well at Alas Tua East, he said.

A Pertamina official earlier said that both prospects are gas-prone.

EMOI and Pertamina each have 45 percent stake in Cepu block, which is scheduled to start oil production at 20,000 BPD later this month. The Cepu block will produce 165,000 BPD in 2013. (godang)