Petronas, PetroChina find gas in Jabung block

By Romel S. Gurky

Malaysian firm Petronas Bhd and its partner PetroChina had made new gas discoveries in NEB Base-1 well, Jabung block in Jambi province.

?This discovery is significant as it confirms the presence of hydrocarbons in a new exploration play consisting of fractured granite in the block,? the Malaysian firm said in a statement on Thursday.

PetroChina, the operator of the block, has drilled the NEB Base-1 well to a depth of 2,521 meters and intersected more than 976 meters of granitic basement of Pre-Tertiary age. The well has been temporarily suspended and planning for testing operations is in progress, including acidization of the fractures to enhance hydrocarbon flow rates.

Petronas holds 42.85 per cent equity in the Jabung.

?The discovery of gas in the fractured granitic basement reservoir has opened up the hydrocarbon potential of the Pre-Tertiary basement play within the Jabung block and the surrounding areas in South Sumatra Basin,? the firm said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon