TEPI to drill Anggrek Hitam well in June

By Godang Simtompul

Total E&P Indonesie (TEPI) is currently making preparations to drill the Anggrek Hitam exploration well within the South West Birdhead Papua Block in June of this year.

TEPI acknowledged that the market for drilling rigs is currently quite tight amid strong demand, but the company has already secured the Maera rig from PT Apexindo Tbk. The Maera is part of the five rigs rented from Apexindo whose rent contracts have been extended recently.

?We?re currently making preparations to drill the Anggrek Hitam exploration well, which if everything goes well would be started around June,? Head of Media Relations of TEPI, Kristanto Hartadi told Petromindo.com Friday.

Kristanto said that the drilling area at Anggrek Hitam is similar to the one in Delta Mahakam, which allows TEPI to use the same rig used in Mahakam, thus allowing the company get rig easier amid the tight market condition.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak