Pertamina hopeful for more oil, gas from South Sumatra discovery

State oil and gas company Pertamina said Tuesday more oil, gas was expected to be discovered in Gunung Kemala discovery, South Sumatra as the company went on to drill deeper at the structure.

?We have encountered 50-meter oil column at the depth of around 2,900 meters. We are optimistic to find more oil, gas as we go on drill to 3,500 meters,? said deputy director upstream Eteng A. Salam.

?Based on geological study, the prospect of finding hydrocarbon of at least similar size is good,? he said.

Pertamina had estimated the 50-meter oil column it had discovered contained up to 230 million barrels of oil and 500 billion cubic feet of gas. (alex)