Oil majors interested in exploration blocks bidding

A number of oil and gas firms including majors have expressed interest to participate in the exploration blocks offer round that would be opened by the ned of this month, a government official said on Thursday.

R. Priyono, Upstream Director at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources told reporters on that Royal Dutch/Shell is interested to acquire exploration portfolio in eastern part of Indonesia, while US oil major Chevron Corp. is interested in Semai blocks offshore West Papua.

Another US oil major ExxonMobil Corp. is also interested in bidding, he said.

Other participants that also have expressed interest including Chinese firm CNPC and Russia’s largest oil company LukOil, Prijono said, who expected a lot more interational companies to participate when the bidding round starts.

The government is set to offer 25 exploration acreages through regular and direct offer by the end of August. (godang)

List of the 25 blocks offered in the tender

No	Block	Location
1	North X Ray	Off. West Java
2	North East Lombok I	Off. the northern coast of Nusa Tenggara
3	North East Lombok II	Off. the northern coast of Nusa Tenggara
4	Semai I	Off. West Semai, West Papua
5	Semai II	Off. West Semai, West Papua
6	Semai III	Off. West Semai, West Papua
7	Semai IV	Off. West Semai, West Papua
8	Semai V	Off. West Semai, West Papua
9	South East Tual	Off. West Arafura
10	Cakalang	Off. Natuna
11	Baronang	Off. Natuna
12	Cucut	Off. Natuna
13	Dolphin	Off. Natuna
14	Kerapu	Off. Natuna
15	Bawean II	Off. East Java
16	East Bawean I	Off. Northern East Java
17	Gunting	On/Off. East Java
18	Situbondo	On/Off. East Java
19	Buton II	Off. Southern Buton
20	Rangkas	On. Banten
21	West Timor	On/Off. Timor
22	Palung Aru 1	Off. Aru island
23	Palung Aru 2	Off. Aru island
24	Mahakam Hilir	On. East Kalimantan
25	North Bali 3	Off. Bali