Ministry to form trilateral team to prepare oil blocks

By Bernard Loebs

The ministry of energy and mineral resources will form a trilateral team comprising officials from three agencies under the ministry ? Geological Agency, Research and Development Agency (Balitbang) and the directorate general of oil and gas -- to prepare oil and gas working areas to be offered to investors.

Previously, each of the agencies worked on their own, Director General of Oil and Gas IGN Wiratmaja said. Now, with the establishment of the trilateral team, they will work in integration and as such the working areas to be offered in the tender will have more accurate data.

Wirtamaja said that this year, the Geological Agency will carry out surveys and prepare data for 2 D seismic survey in six basins, namely Atambua and Memberano; South Tomori; Arafura; Tarakan; Saku; and Misool

Meanwhile, Balitbang will conduct G&G analysis in five areas, namely Tomini Bay V, Sula II, Dolok, Gorontalo Tomini II and Karaeng.

As for the directorate general of oil and gas, it will prepare five working areas that will be put into auction this year, namely Merauke, SE Mandar, West Misool, Gorontalo Tomini I, and Tomini Bay.

For next year, Geological Agency will integrate subsurface and field data in three basins, namely Tarakan, South Tomori and Akieumegah; and carry out G&G survey in two basins, namely South Jayapura and Waigeo.

Meanwhile, in 2017, Balitbang will carry out G&G analysis in 10 areas, namely Memberano, Atambua, Savu, Misool, South Tomori, Tarakan, Morowali, Arafura, Sunda Strait IV, and Halmahera.

As for the directorate general of oil and gas, it will prepare five working areas to be put in auction in 2017, namely Tomini Bay V, Sula II, Dolok, Gorontalo Tomini II, and Karaeng and ten working areas to be put into auction in 2018, namely Memberano, Atambua, Savu, Misool, South Tomori, Tarakan, Morowali, Arafura, Sunda Strait IV, and Halmahera.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon