Pertamina delays Donggi-B drilling to mid-July

State oil and gas firm Pertamina has delayed its plan to drill Donggi-B appraisal well in Central Sulawesi to July 16, from early this month, an oil and gas industry source told Petromindo.Com on Tuesday.

The drilling delay was to provide Pertamina enough time for making material preparations for the work, the source said.

Donggi-B is located in Banggai basin in Central Sulawesi.

Drilling is planned to reach maximum depth of 2,525 meters, and an estimated 40 days are required to complete the work, the source said.

The source added Pertamina expects to find 1.5 trillion cubic feet of proven gas from Donggi-B well.

Pertamina, in cooperation with several foreign companies, had drilled five appraisal wells in Banggai field. The field contained potential oil reserves, Pertamina officials said. Pertamina had planned to drill as many as 14 appraisal wells.

The company had also planned to sell significant portion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Donggi to the United States. (godang)