PRESS RELEASE: Incident on ENSCO-1 Drilling Rig at TN-C9 well has been overcome

(Issued June 4 2003)The shallow gas release incident on TN-C9 well which happened on June 2nd 2003 at 10:00 hours local time during drilling operations of the TN-C9 well located at the Tunu field in the Mahakam River Delta, East Kalimantan province, Indonesia, has been overcome as of June 03, 2003 at 19:00 local time.

The drilling crew assisted by our marine experts have successfully moved ENSCO-1 drilling rig to a safe location 400m from the TN-C9 well.The water flow at the well site itself has become much smaller. The latest report at 06:00 on June 04, 2003 stated that the flow has reduced to a height of 0.5 m of around 3 m of diameter.

It is expected that the flow would soon die by itself. Efforts to secure the location as well as pollution prevention are still underway, even though no major pollution is reported as the flow mainly consists of gas and water.

Neither casualties nor injuries were reported during the incident.It is expected that starting June 05, 2003 the wells near the TN-C9 well could resume their production.

TotalFinaElf E&P Indon?sie currently produces 1.4 BSCFD from the Tunu field out of an overall production of 2.4 BSCFD supplying the Bontang LNG Plant. The Tunu field within the Mahakam Block is operated by TotalFinaElf E&P Indonesie in equal partnership with Inpex. (End of Release)