Petronas Carigali to explore Ketapang gas block soon

Petronas Carigali Ketapang Ltd will soon begin the exploration of Ketapang II gas block offshore East Java, an official at upstream oil and gas regulator BPMIGAS said.

Hadi Prasetyo, head of BPMIGAS for East Java and Papua area, said at present Petronas Carigali and BPMIGAS are conducting public dissemination activities prior to the drilling of first exploration well, Bukit Tua South-1 well.

Petronas Carigali plans to spud the well in first quarter 2012 with a target depth of 6,000-7,000 feet.

Hadi Prasetyo hopes that the exploration will go ahead as planned and fruitful. ?Therefore, cooperation from all stakeholders is needed,? he said Wednesday in Surabaya.

Joni Wijaya, an executive of Petronas Carigali, said the drilling will be conducted in offshore Sampang Regency, East Java, about 40-50 kilometers north of Sampang, Madura. Exploration, he said, will begin at end of this month.

Joni said Petronas Carigali will not conduct 3D seismic as other companies have done such survey in the area previously. (bernard)