Sonoro meets SKK Migas to conclude Budong Budong appraisal well timeline

By Romel S. Gurky

Canada?s junior oil and gas company Sonoro Energy Ltd announced Friday that the planned drilling of the LG-1 Up-dip at the Budong Budong PSC, in Indonesia?s West Sulawesi Province, is now scheduled for the second half of September, a slight delay from the initial plan of early August.

Sonoro said in a statement that it has met with upstream oil and gas authority SKK Migas, and confirmed a revised schedule for the Budong Budong PSC appraisal well program.

?The schedule calls for drilling of the LG-1 Up-dip well during the second half of September, testing in October, and time for further evaluation of results, if necessary thereafter,? the company said in the statement, adding that SKK Migas is expected to submit this information to the Directorate General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, which overlooks the Budong Budong PSC and its license extension.

Sonoro said its representatives have also toured the field with PT Advanced Services Indonesia (ASI) to review the logistics involved in transporting ASI?s drilling rig to the LG-1 Up-dip site. Despite the significant rains during this trip and over the past few weeks, the road conditions and lease are in excellent shape. Timing for mobilization of the drilling rig is on track for the first week of September.

? Our team is currently in Balikpapan coordinating with ASI to ensure that all the components and equipment for the rig will integrate with our services and equipment already mobilized to Sulawesi,? says Sonoro?s Chief Executive Officer and Director Richard Wadsworth.

? After visiting our team in Sulawesi and our site last week, I have renewed confidence in our team?s ability to deliver this well safely, in the time frames now planned?and, even given these delays, at a cost now below our budget.?

Sonoro said it has also agreed to a mutual release with PT Pontil, the previous drilling rig contractor, on a contract termination, as well as the return of both the performance bond held by Sonoro and the deposit held by PT Pontil.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak