Six CBM fields expected to begin production this year: BPMIGAS

Six coal bed methane (CBM) fields are expected to begin production this year providing additional gas supply of about 9 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), upstream oil and gas regulator BPMIGAS has said.

Elan Biantoro, the agency?s spokesman, said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the additional gas supply from the six CBM fields would be able to generate 22.5 megawatt of power. ?The gas will be sold to a power plant located near the field,? he said.

The six CBM fields include Sanga Sanga block in East Kalimantan which is operated by Vico; Sangatta West block also in East Kalimantan which is operated by Ephindo-Dart Energy, Sekayu blok which is operated by Medco Energi Internasional and Barito blocks in South Kalimantan, which is operated by Exxon and Sugico.

According to Elan, Sangatta West and Sanga-sanga fields will be the first to start production. Each of the fields will produce around 1-3 mmscfd.

Elan said 23 companies have so far involved in the development of CBM in the country. He hoped more companies would enter the business in the future because unlike other extracting activities, CBM has lower financial risk. (godang)