Medco shuts down gas operation in East Cameron block on hurricane Rita

Publicly listed oil and gas firm PT Medco Energi International Tbk has shut down gas production at its East Cameron block of the United States due to hurricane Rita that stroke Gulf of Mexico and State of Texas at the end of September.

?The temporary production shut down was due to platform damage caused by hurricane Rita and the Sea Robin pipeline and receiving plant have to be shut in to sustain damage from flooding,? Medco said in a statement released Monday.

Medco said inspections on the potential damage of the platform were still in progress and said the East Cameron block will be ready to produce when the pipeline is ready to receive gas production.

The company also said it expected that the East Cameron?s production will be back online in the first half of November 2005.

According to Medco, average gas production from the East Cameron block is normally around 5 to 7 million cubic feet per day.

Medco operates the block with 100 percent of working interest. (Robert)