TotalFinaElf reports incident in Mahakam Block

An incident happened on Monday on the ENSCO-1 drilling rig when shallow gas release occurred during drilling operations of the TN-C9 well located at the Tunu field in the Mahakam River Delta, East Kalimantan province, Indonesia, TotalFinaElf E&P Indonesie, the operator of the block, said on Tuesday.

Neither casualties nor injuries were reported during the incident and all the drilling personnel had been evacuated to safety at 9 p.m local time, the firm said in a press statement.

As the flow mainly consists of gas and water, no major pollution is reported. Nevertheless, pollution prevention measures have immediately been launched.

On Tuesday, at 6 a.m. local time, the flow had subsided, the statement said, adding that efforts to secure the site had been carried out while endeavours to move the drilling rig had been initiated.

Meanwhile, an investigation had been launched into the cause of the incident, it further said.

TotalFinaElf E&P Indon?sie currently produces 1.4 BSCFD from the Tunu field out of an overall production of 2.4 BSCFD supplying the Bontang LNG Plant.

Impact of the incident on the production will be limited, according to the press statement.

The Tunu field within the Mahakam Block is operated by TotalFinaElf E&P Indonesie in equal partnership with Inpex. (godang)