Pertamina says gas blow out has been overcome

The state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina said that the gas blow out problem at its rig in Desa Wono Indah village, Sangatta area, East Kalimantan province, had been completely overcome.

"There's no more problem. The officials have overcome the gas blow out which had created jitters among people living nearby," head of Pertamina Bunyu operation Tony Harisman told the local Kaltim Post daily.

The gas blow out from the Bunyu rig started on Friday afternoon, but Tony said that the problem was overcome by Monday.

Hundreds of people of the Desa Wono Indah village was terrified by the gas blow out from the Bunyu rig. Some villagers had to take a refuge at the neighboring village on fears that the blow out could become more serious. Others were unable to cook on fears of fire disaster.

Tony said that the gas blow out was due to technical problem. He admitted that the Bunyu gas well was an old well but it was still productive. "The gas blow out was due to technical problem. But everything has been overcome so no need to be panic," he said.

Some have criticized Pertamina's decision to reactive the old gas well especially because of its location which was only 12 meter from the nearest village. The mining law stipulates that rig activity must be at least 50 meters away. (*)