Total to conduct seismic surveys in Mentawai

By Febry Silaban

French oil and gas firm Total E&P Indonesie is preparing to conduct seismic surveys in the exploration block of Bengkulu 1- Mentawai in Bengkulu, according to an industry source.

"Total is likely to perform a 2D seismic survey on 3,000 km or 3D seismic survey along 200 sq km in the sea this year or early next year," the source told Petromindo.com.

The company is awaiting approval from the Directorate General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, according to the source.

Last year, Total carried out deep water exploration drilling at the Rendang 1x well in the block, but the result is dry hole.

The block is 100 percent owned by Total through its subsidiary Total E&P Indonesia Mentawai BV which was awarded with the block contract on October 2012.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon