Total secures rig to drill Rendang-1 well

By Godang Sitompul

Total E&P Indonesie Mentawai B.V., the local unit of French firm Total SA that operates Bengkulu-Mentawai block offshore Bengkulu, said it has secured a drilling rig for its drilling campaign on Rendang-1 well planned for early next year.

Head of Media Relations Total EP Indonesie (TEPI) Kristanto Hartadi told Petromindo.com on Friday that the company together with the regional authority are now finalizing an environmental study surrounding the block.

"The drilling target is early 2014. The rig is available, it's the Ocean Monarch Drilling Rig," he said.

As part of that study, Total with the support of upstream authority SKK Migas has been carrying out geo-hazard survey since Oct. 27, 2013, which is expected to take three weeks to complete.

Editing by dadan Wijaksana