Pertamina EP seeking to stop gas blowout in Tarakan

PT Pertamina EP (PEP) is seeking to stop a gas blowout incident at JTA-122 well in Juata Krikil subdistrict, North Tarakan district, Tarakan city, East Kalimantan, which forced its staff to evacuate but has thus far caused no fatalities.

The firm said in a statement on Thursday that the blowout started at 5.30 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Natural gas, water and sands spewed uncontrolled from the well to a height of 25-30 meters due to an estimated 700 psi subsurface pressure.

All company staff have evacuated the site and since the site is located far away from residential areas, it caused no serious troubles to the local people, according to PEP?s spokesman Agus Aperianto.

The firm has isolated the site and has taken measures to the stop blowout, he said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon