Lapindo Brantas' gas incident causes no injuries or damages

Exploration activities at Lapindo Brantas' gas exploration areas in Porong district, Sidoardjo, East Java have almost returned to normal after being halted due to a leakage in one of its exploration wells early this week, Chris Newton, the president director of PT Energi Mega Persada, the parent company of Lapindo Brantas, has said.

In his report to BPMigas, the regulatory body for gas and oil exploration and production, Chris acknowledged that there was a gas leakage in Banjarpanji-1 well on Monday when workers carried out their exploration activities in the well.

Workers and residents living in nearby areas had been evacuated after the company found that the leaked gas contained poisonous hydrogen sulfide (H2S). "But there were no injuries or damages during the evacuation process," he said.

According to him, the pressure of the gas coming out from the exploration well had been significantly reduced after the company injected solid mud to stop the gas flow

"Lapindo Brantas has continued its exploration activities but the safety of the communities remains our main priority," Chris added.

Lapindo Brantas, the operator of Brantas PSC and 50 percent interest holder, is a unit of JSX-listed oil firm PT. Energi Mega Persada. Another JSX-listed oil company Medco Energi holds 32 percent interest in the block and the remaining balance is held by Australian oil producer Santos Limited (godang)