Inpex submits PoD to build Masela LNG

Upstream oil, gas authority BPMIGAS said on Tuesday that Japanese firm Inpex Corp has submitted plan to develop LNG plant in Masela PSC in Timor Sea.

Chairman R. Priyono told reporters that the PoD, which was submitted on Monday, was based on recoverable reserves of 14 TCF, or much larger than the 10TCF originally expected.

Priyono said the last four delineation wells Inpex drilled in the block were huge success as all of them discovered gas at huge amount of gas.

Inpex submitted two scenarios to develop the LNG plant; building a floating LNG plant or pipe the gas to gas liquefaction plant to Aru island, which is located some 400-kilometers from the block. He ruled out the possibility to bring Masela gas to a liquefaction plant in Darwin, Australia.

He did not say the capacity of the LNG plant Inpax planned to build.

He said earlier that the Masela LNG plant will come onstream 2014-15.

Inpex has 100 percent interest in the block. (alex)