Lasmo, Unocal to drill gas field in Aceh

State oil and gas company Pertamina said on Saturday British oil and gas company Lasmo and American oil and gas company Unocal would cooperate in gas exploration in Krueng, Lhokseumawe, Aceh.

Relations and protocol head of Pertamina's foreign contractors management body (BPPKA) L Harijanto told Petromindo. Com that the field was believed to contain 1.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

He said Lasmo would use Unocal's technology in drilling its gas field in Krueng because the technology could cut drilling cost to half of the normal cost.

Lasmo planned to start drilling on Nov. 21 and the drilling was expected to complete in 20 days, he said.

Harijanto said Lasmo expected to supply the gas to the Arun liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, which was now facing declining gas supplies. (Godang/Epin)