PetroChina delays drilling works at Sukowati-5 well

PetroChina has delayed drilling activities on the company's Sukowati-5 oil well in Bojonegoro, East Java due to a problem in coping with the leakage in the lower part of the well.

"We have to delay the drilling activities because there is a technical problem in covering the lower part of the well," field manager of the Joint Operation Body (JOB) Pertamina-PetroChina, Victory Surya Kirana, told Investor Daily Wednesday.

He, however, said that the gas blowout which took place in one of the company's wells last week had been under a full control but he admitted the drilling activities could not be resumed until the leakage in the lower part of the well could be dealt with.

The company said Monday that it would resume the drilling works in the Sukowati-5 well on Tuesday after successfully controlling the gas blowout that hit one of the wells in the field on Saturday.

Victory said Monday the company would further carry out drilling activities at the Sukowati-5 well in order to add the depth of the well by another 2,100 feet from the current 6,143 feet.

The drilling activities could be completed within next three months and to begin production with an initial output of between 2,000 barrels and 3,000 barrels per day, Victory said. (*)