Premier Oil to drill 6 wells in Indonesia

UK independent oil, gas firm Premier Oil Plc plans to drill six exploration wells in Indonesia for the rest of the year and next year.

The company revealed in an Interim Management Statement report released on Tuesday that preparations for drilling Gajah Laut Utara-1 and Belut Laut-1 wells are well under way ahead of spud now scheduled for December. Both wells are located in Tuna PSC offshore Natuna. According to Premier?s website, the company will utilize rig called ?Ocean General? to carry out the exploration. Premier is the Tuna block operator with 65% interest.

The company will also drill one well called Benteng-1 in Buton PSC in Southeast Sulawesi the first quarter of 2011. Premier holds a 30% interest at Buton PSC.

The company will drill two wells in Natuna Sea Block A PSC called Anoa Deep and Biawak Besar in the second quarter of 2011 through to the fourth quarter, utilizing West Callisto rig. Premier holds a 28.67% operating interest in the block.

The last well to be drilled in 2011 will be the Matang-1 well in Block A Aceh PSC onshore North Sumatra, where Premier holds a 41.67% non-operating interest in the block.(alex)