Total taking actions in response to shallow gas release

Total E&P Indonesie reported on Friday that it has activated all resources and continues to respond to the effects of a shallow gas release which occurred on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. This release occurred during the drilling of well TN-C414 on the Tunu field in Anggana Sub-District, Kutai Kartanegara District, East Kalimantan Province.

Immediately after the event occurred, an emergency response team from Total?s headquarters was mobilized on site with the assistance of well control experts. The team boarded the rig and performed a complete assessment of the situation, preparing a comprehensive action plan to restore the site?s safety and remove the drilling rig from its current location.

As a precautionary measure to avoid, decision was taken to plug-in the 5 (five) wells located in the immediate vicinity of the incident location. This operation was successfully completed and the wells plugged-in.

The efforts are now focusing on preparing the moving of the drilling rig. The fuel stored inside the barge has been already successfully removed and sediments cleaned up at the rig floor and mezzanine deck. Next operations will be to cut the drill pipe and deballast the rig.

Total E&P Indon?sie remains in close contact with the relevant authorities, in particular the Directorate General of Oil & Gas and with SKK Migas, who are being kept informed as the situation evolves. Nearby villagers are also being kept informed of the situation by the community liaison officers from Total E&P Indon?sie.

To confirm earlier reports, no injuries were sustained and all 109 workers were safely evacuated. The incident has not caused any oil spill.

The incident has not disrupted production. Total E&P Indon?sie currently produces 800 MMSCFD from the Tunu field, out of an overall production of 1700 MMSCFD for the Mahakam PSC.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon