Pertamina delays plan to drill another well in Cepu

State oil and gas company Pertamina had delayed its plan to conduct another exploration drilling near Randublatung-1 well in Cepu, Central Java, which was abandoned due to uncontrollable gas blow out.

?The team that we dispatched to survey new drilling location found out that the people who live nearby are still traumatized by the blowout. We therefore delay our plan to quickly commence another drilling until the condition is more conducive,? said the company?s official.

Hundreds of people who lived in nearby area had to be evacuated after an uncontrollable gas blowout hit the Randublatung-1 wildcat exploration well in February.

A Pertamina senior official said that despite significant financial loss the blowout caused, it was also a strong evidence of the occurrence of significant gas in Randu Blatung area.

?Prior to the blowout, there were sign that we have hit at least 50 meter-thick gas column,? said Eteng Salam, Pertamina?s deputy upstream director. (godang)