Unocal farms in TotalFinaElf-operated deepwater block

US independent oil firm Unocal Corp. had secured deal to farm in TotalFinaElf-operated Donggala deepwater exploration block in Makassar Strait, East Kalimantan, a BP Migas official said.

?The deal will be signed Friday,? said Kardaya Warnika, vice-chairman of upstream oil and gas authority BP Migas said late Thursday. Kardaya did not say the percentage of working interest Unocal will acquire in the block but said TotalFinaElf E&P Indonesie will retain operatorship.

TotalFinaElf has 42.5 percent working interest in the block, while Japan?s Inpex and Pertamina hold 42.5 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

TotalFinaElf was awarded the block last year, after facing stiff competition from Unocal, who is recognized as Indonesia?s leading deepwater explorer.

A TotalFinaElf E&P Indonesie said earlier that the partnership planned to drill two wildcat exploration wells in the block early next year. (godang)