Santos reports progress in drilling program

Australian oil company Santos Limited reported Thursday the Jeruk 3 appraisal well, which is located at Sampang PSC, offshore East Java had encountered what was interpreted to be the top of the Kujung carbonate at 4960 meters measured depth (4675 meters TVDSS).

?Due to mechanical difficulties in setting 9 5/8? casing, the well has subsequently been sidetracked from 3390 metres and is currently drilling ahead,? Santos said in its quarterly report.

Santos is the operator of Sampang PSC. The company and its partners are currently reviewing the full potential of the Jeruk discovery.

Santos also reported it had plugged and abandoned the Nyari 1 exploration well of Madura Offshore PSC after the primary objective was found to be water-bearing, while the drilling activity at the Banjar Panji well of Brantas PSC has been temporarily suspended due to undergoing rig repairs.

According to the report, the oil development phase at Sampang PSC?s Oyong field was approximately 95 percent complete at the end of the quarter with all development drilling already completed.

Meanwhile, the development at Maleo gas filed of Madura Offshore PSC was approximately 75 percent complete at the end of the quarter. The four-well development drilling program in the field has been successfully completed.

Santos plans another 7 exploration wells, that is four in East Java and three in Kutei Basin, offshore East Kalimantan, in the rest of 2006. One of the East Java wells, the Dukuh, located in Sampang PSC was spudded in early April. (Robert)