Unocal confirms oil flow from deep water West Seno field

US independent oil company Unocal Corp. confirmed on Monday that its deepwater West Seno field in Makassar Strait PSC had commenced oil production.

?West Seno had started to flow oil,? Unocal Indonesia Media Relations Supervisor Ario Dewayanto told Petromindo.Com. He did not disclose further detail.

West Seno is Indonesia?s first deepwater oil, gas field.

Earlier reports quoting BP Migas official said that West Seno started flowing oil on August 5 with current production rate of around 10,000 barrels per day. Production would be increased to 20,000 BPD in the second month with 30,000 BPD production expected to be reached by year-end. Production volumes will continue rising gradually in 2004 as the remainder of the Phase One drilling program is executed, with 28 development wells drilled from one tension leg platform.

Phase Two of the project will see the addition of 24 wells on a second tension leg platform; targeted to boost the total output volume to 60,000 BPD of oil and 150 MMCFD of gas by 2005.

Ultimate recovery from the field is expected to be 210-320-million barrels of oil equivalent.

Unocal Makassar is operator of the Makassar Strait production sharing contract area. It holds a 90 percent working interest in the PSC, with Pertamina holding the remaining 10 percent. (godang)