Firms plan drilling programs at exploration, development wells in Riau Islands
Tuesday, October 22 2013 - 03:05 AM WIB
Three oil and gas exploration companies including Premier Oil Tuna B.V, Pearl Oil (Tachylyte) Ltd., and Lundin Baronang B.V., accompanied by the upstream oil and gas authority SKK Migas northern Sumatra representative office met with the Natuna Regent and other top local officials and community leaders on October 17 in Natuna as part of a campaign to win local support for upcoming oil and gas exploration activities in offshore Natuna, Riau Islands.
SKK Migas said in a statement received Tuesday that the three companies planned to start exploration activities in five exploration wells before the end of this year. These include the following.
Premier Oil Tuna B.V. plans to drill two exploration wells including Kuda Laut-1 well and Singa Laut-1 well in the Tuna block in December 2013.
Pearl Oil (Tachlytie) Ltd. plans to drill the Trilobi-1 exploration well in Kerapu block also in December.
Meanwhile, Lundin Baronang B.V. plans to drill the Balqis-1 and Boni-1 exploration wells in Baronang block in the middle of November 2013.
Natuna Regent Ilyas Sabli said his administration welcomes the planned exploration activities that could help increase the country?s oil and gas production as well as income to the local government.
He, however, reminded the oil and gas contractors to consider recruiting local people as part of their workforce, and provide CSR funds to the local communities.
Meanwhile, Arief Fanshuri, Head of Drilling and Survey Division at SKK Migas, said that ConocoPhillips plans to drill the Balida-A07 development well within the offshore South Natuna Sea Block B PSC, in November of this year.
He said that the company is also currently drilling the Belanak-A29 development well in the same offshore block.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak