Govt upgrades status of some exploration fields

Upstream oil and gas regulator BPMIGAS said that the government has upgraded the status of a number of oil and gas fields and blocks from exploration to exploitation status, BPMIGAS Deputy Chairman Hardiono said.

?BPMIGAS is happy that a number of oil and gas fields? status had been changed to exploitation fields following the approval of their plan of development (PoD) by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry,? Hardiono said.

Among oil and gas fields/blocks that have changed status are Jangkrik field in Muara Bakau in East Kalimantan operated by Italy?s Eni, West Kampar PSC in Riau operated by PT Sumatera Persada Energi, Jau field in the North Sumatra Krueng Mane PSC operated by Eni, Ridho field in South Sumatera operated by PT Odira Energi Karang Agung and Ande-Ande Lumut field in Riau Islands province operated by Genting Oil.

?Once the PoD is approved, the status is also ready to change,? Hardiono said.

Head of BPMIGAS R. Priyono said earlier that the regulator expected that the number of exploitation blocks in 2011 would increase to 2,331 from 1,257 fields/blocks in 2010, while exploration fields/blocks increased to 342 from 268 fields/blocks in 2010. (godang)