Pertamina, Wintershall doing survey on Qatar's Block 3

State owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina and its German partner Wintershall, a subsidiry of BASF AG, are doing geological and geophysical survey on Block 3 onshore Qatar.

The joint venture got the concession in 2007. Pertamina has 25 percent interest in the block, with operator Wintershall AG holding 40 percent. The remaining balance is held by Cosmo Energy.

Karen said on Tuesday both firms committed to investing $40.7 million in the first five years, including $11 million in Pertamina's portion.

Karen also said Pertamina has dropped plans to set up a block swap agreement with Norway's firm StatOil, but she did not provide details.

Previously, a senior official of Pertamina said under the planned swap agreement, StatOil will get a block owned by Pertamina in Indonesia in exchange for a block owned by the former in the United States. (bernard)