Pan Orient to drill 3 wells at Batu Gajah

By Demas Simbolon

Canadian oil and gas firm Pan Orient Energy Corp. has allocated $54.2 million for its Indonesian operations, which include the drilling of two exploration wells and one appraisal well in Batu Gajah PSC and two exploration well operations in the Citarum PSC.

The first of three back to back wells in Batu Gajah is expected to start drilling in late December 2012. The three wells are Shinta-1, Buana-1 and Kemala-1, the company said in a third quarter report.

As the two exploration well operations in the Citarum PSC will cover the slim hole deepening at Jatayu-1 and drilling of Cataka-1A.

A 400 square kilometer 3D seismic program at Batu Gajah, 430 kilometers of 2D seismic at East Jabung and 227 kilometers of 2D seismic at South CPP is also part of the capital budget, the report added.

Pan Orient holds the operatorship at Batu Gajah PSC and Citarum PSC, with a working interest of 97 percent and 77 percent, respectively.

Editing by Dadan Wijaksana