Govt awards 5 exploration blocks

Government on Friday announced winners of five exploration blocks that are being offered through regular bidding round late last year.

Canadian oil, gas firm Talisman Energy is awarded Andaman III Block offshore North Sumatra. Petronas-Pertamina consortium is awarded West Glagah Kambuna Block, also located offshore North Sumatra. Consortium of Black Gold Energy LLC and Niko Resources is awarded three blocks namely East Bula offshore Seram, Maluku, SE Halmahera-SW Kofiau, offshore South Halmahera and West Papua IV, offshore West Papua.

Director General of Oil and Gas Evita Legowo said only five blocks out of 16 blocks offered in October 2008 bidding round attracted bidders.

Evita added that the blocks? winners committed US$5.5 million for G&G, $8 million for 9,500 km 2D seismic, $25 million for 2850 km2 3D seismic and three-well drilling commitment worth $53 million. Government is set to receive +$2 million signing bonus.

The government also announced on Friday the opening of the bidding round for three CBM blocks, namely Sanga-Sanga CBM area in East Kalimantan, Barito CBM area in South Kalimantan and Rengat CBM area in Central Sumatra.

One block called Langgak onshore Central Sumatra, which was previously operated by US oil giant Chevron Corp is also being auctioned with bidders are limited to national companies. (godang)

REGULAR TENDER
No	BLOCK	LOCATION	WINNER(s)	BONUS SIGNATURE (million US$)
1	Andaman-III	Offshore North Sumatra	Talisman	7.5
2	West Glagah Kambuna	Offshore North Sumatra	Consortium Pertamina-Petronas	8.0
3	SE Halmahera-SW Kofiau	Offshore South Halmahera	Consortium Niko Resources-Black Gold Energy	1.5
4	East Bula	Offshore Seram	Consortium Niko Resources-Black Gold Energy	1.0
5	West Papua IV	Offshore West Papua	Consortium Niko Resources-Black Gold Energy	2.0
Total				20.0