TotalFinaElf continues measures to secure Tunu E5 well

TotalFinaElf E & P Indonesie is continuing measures to fully secure the Tunu E5 well, which earlier this month was hit by fire following a gas blowout incident during drilling operations, according to the company?s statement.

The company also said Friday it continued to assess the damage and restart production of neighboring production platforms, which were temporarily shut-in for security reasons.

?The small gas flow corning from the leak localized next to the Blow Out Preventer continues to be closely monitored by the Emergency Well Control Team. As a safety precaution, in order to monitor the leak rate, the two meter high flame originating from the leak will not be extinguished,? the statement said.

It added that mobilization of a second rig ?Hibiscus? has been completed and the drilling of a relief well started on March 16. ?It is estimated that it will take around five weeks to drill this relief well.?

TotalFinaElf confirms that there is no impact on short-term cargo deliveries to the Bontang LNG plant and the company continues to assure its commitments to supply gas to this facility through existing production capacity from the Mahakam Block. The Cluster ?G? wells, which were temporarily shut-in for safety reasons, were re-opened on 15 March. However, the Cluster ?E? well located in the vicinity of the Tunu E5 well will remain shut-in.

The Tunu gas field is situated at the delta of the Mahakan river on the Mahakam Block in East Kalimantan. The field is operated by TotalFinaElf E & P Indonesie (50%) under a Production Sharing Contract with Pertamina and in partnership with Indonesia Petroleum (Inpex, 50%), a Japanese energy company.(Amoros)