Pertamina, Shell search for E. Indonesia exploration blocks

State oil and gas company PT.Pertamina said it would conduct exploration joint studies in unexplored part of eastern Indonesia with Anglo-Dutch oil firm Royal Dutch/Shell.

CEO Ari Soemarno told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday that the joint operation body to be formed by both companies would study deepwater parts of eastern Indonesia.

?If the joint study proved that certain area is prospective, we will apply for that area through a direct offer mechanism,? he said., adding that Pertamina will had also signed deal to jointly explore for coal-bed methane (CBM) in South Sumatra with Shell.

Pertamina had also been in a deal to with Norwegian oil firm Statoil to jointly explore eastern part of Indonesia. (godang)