PHE faces difficulty to get jack up rig for Glagah Kambuna

By Godang Sitompul

PT. Pertamina Hulu Energy (PHE) said it was still facing a difficulty in procuring a jack up rig to drill wells in West Glagah Kambuna, offshore North Sumatra.

"We havent?s yet started drilling in West Glagah Kambuna (WGK) because we cannot yet get the jack up rig. But we?re trying to get it so that at least one exploration well can be drilled within this year,? PT PHE Operational Director Edi Purnomo told Petromindo.com in Jakarta.

PHE Public Relations Manager Sugeng Haryanto told Petromindo.com that Glagah Kambuna was in a stage of exploration and it was preparing a 2D seismic. ?This year we plan to drill one exploration well. Hopefully, we can realize it in July,? he said.

Previously, upstream authority BPMIGAS said Petronas Carigali (West Glagah Kambuna) Ltd would move on to drill a well at West Glagah Kambuna block in offshore North Sumatera in August this year following the completion of soil boring test to assess the strengh of soil where rig would be installed.

Julius Wiratno, BPMIGAS Head for northern Sumatera region, said the soil boring test was carried out on February 2012. ?Petronas plans to conduct drilling in August pending the availability of rig,? Wiratno said.

The block is managed by a consortium of Petronas Carigali (West Glagah Kambuna) Ltd, which has an interest of 60 percent, and PT Pertamina Hulu Energi West Glagah Kambuna, with interest of 40 percent. The block was awarded in November 2009.

West Glagah Kambuna block is located around 60 kilometers offshore of Belawan, North Sumatra province.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.