Pertamina eyeing SES block operated by CNOOC

By Godang Sitompul

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina said it is interested in South East Sumatera (SES) Block which is operated by China National Oil Offshore Company (CNOOC) which will expire in 2018.

?Pertamina is interested to take over SES from CNOOC,? Director for Upstream of Pertamina, M. Husein told Petromindo.com.

Husein said basically Pertamina is interested to take over oil and gas blocks with expiring contracts.

Deputy for Operation of upstream authority BPMIGAS, Rudi Rubiandini, said it is understandable if Pertamina is interested in those blocks as Pertamina expects to become the largest oil and gas producer in the country.

?However, bear in mind that we still need foreign investors' support especially in exploring offshore and remote frontier areas,? said Rudi.

He said in short term Pertamina should focus on investing in increasing production of existing blocks.

?We hope that apart from adding working areas (WK), Pertamina should also concentrate in increasing its production through IOR or improved oil recovery,? he noted.

Editing by Roffie Kurniawan