Saka plans to be operator in several blocks in US by 2017
Friday, March 27 2015 - 01:11 PM WIB
PT Saka Energi Indonesia, a subsidiary of state-controlled gas distribution firm PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk. (PGN), is planning to grab several more blocks in the US through 2017 and become operator there, according to a senior official of the firm.
"We have started (doing business in the US) as non-operator. But our plan is that we must have become an operator by 2017," Saka?s Operation Director Tumbur Parlindungan told Petromindo.com.
He did not provide in details the names and number of the blocks the firm wants to acquire, saying: "It depends on the market. Now, everything is cheap due to the oil price drop.?
He hinted that the location of the fields or blocks should be close to LNG plants that its gas can be easily brought to Indonesia.
"We will become operator in blocks close to an LNG plant, so that the gas can be brought to Indonesia. Most likely the blocks is located in the Eagle Ford, but can also be in other places such as Marcellus, which also has LNG plant," he added.
According to Tumbur, Saka has no intention to become the operator of the Fasken block, where it already has a 36 percent interest.
"We will not disturb Fasken which is being operated by Swift Energy, because it is a production block. Saka must seek and have other partners, so there are competitors for Swift," he insisted.
Last year, Swift Energy sold a 36 percent full participating interest in the Fasken area of Eagle Ford shale properties to Saka for $175 million. Shale gas production from the Fasken block reached 147 mmscfd this month, while the average production is 125 mmscfd, Tumbur said recently.
Editing by Johannes Simbolon