Salamander to appraise Indonesian discoveries

LSE-listed independent oil, gas firm Salamander Energy plc will drill to appraise five fields and discoveries in the second half of 2007, including three in Indonesia.

Chairman Charles Jamieson said in an AGM statement published at the LSE Wednesday that the company would start appraising South Sembakung discovery in Simenggaris JOB onshore East Kalimantan early next month. The company has just announced that it has agreed to acquire 21 percent interest in the block from Medco Energi.

The company said it would also participate in the drilling of three wells to appraise the Manik discovery in the SES PSC, which is operated by CNOOC. Salamander has 5 percent interest in SES offshore PSC, which is located near Jakarta.

The third program will be drilling to appraise Tutung-1 oil/ gas discovery in Bontang PSC, which was discovered by previous operator. Salamander has 70 percent interest in Bontang and is the operator of the block. The drilling is planned to commence at the fourth quarter of this year.

Salamander also has 5 percent interest in BP-operated ONWJ oil, gas block in the western part of Java. (alex)