Pertamina, Wintershall awarded Qatar exploration block

State oil, gas company Pertamina said on Monday that it and German oil, gas firm Wintershall AG had been awarded an onshore exploration block in Qatar called Block 3.

Upstream Directro Sukusen Soemarinda told reporters that pertamina will hold 25 percent stake in the block while Wintershall, which is a unit of German manufacturing giant BASF AG will be the block?s operator with 40 percent interest.

Sukusen said the partnership will spend US$47 million in five years to explore the block starting 2008. (godang)