Pertamina to certify more C. Sulawesi gas

State oil and gas company Pertamina expects to increase the amount of its certified gas reserve in Central Sulawesi from 5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) to 9 TCF this year to prepare to commercialize the gas field.

Pertamina and Exspan Indonesia, a subsidiary of JSX listed Medco Energi International will drill five delineation well within the Matindok Block, Pertamina?s upstream director Iin Arifin Takhyan said in IIOGE conference in Bali Saturday.

Matindok Block consists of Donggi block, which is operated by Pertamina and Senoro-Toili block, operated jointly with Exspan.

Iin said Pertamina would employ DeGolyer & McNaughton to undertake the certification.

Iin said proven and possible reserve in Matindok block could reach more than 20 TCF, as exploration efforts are continuing.

Pertamina had projected to build LNG plant in the block and had been in tlak with several parties such as Marathon Oil, El Paso Corp. and Philippine oil company PNOC.

Several international companies such as Shell and Rentech, had also known to approach Pertamina to build gas-to-liquid (GTL) facility in the block. (alex)