Unocal's drilling activities won't damage coral reef in Kapoposang island
Friday, May 12 2000 - 04:20 AM WIB
Oil and gas company Unocal said the drilling activities that it would carry out together with South Makassar Petroleum Exploration Co. (SMPEC) at the Makassar Straits would not affect the beauty of the coral reef of the Kapoposang island.
Unocal's business and exploration technology manager Junus Prajoga and drilling manager Nurrochmat Sawolo said in the South Sulawesi's capital of Makassar on Thursday that the company named their operation in the area after the island with the purpose of promoting the beauty of the island and warning the people to protect the island's environment.
"We use the name of Kapposang (for our operation), not because we want to conduct drilling in the island," he was quoted by Kompas daily as saying in a discussion with local governmental officials, councilors and activists.
The discussion was held following concerns voiced by marine analysts over the protection of Kapoposang's coral reef.
Nurrochmat said they would drill to the depth of 4,000 feet, 140 kilometer off the coast of the South Sulawesi and 40 kilometer off the coast of Pare-Pare.
He also said they would use sophisticated and environmentally sound technology during the drilling.
He said the drilling would start on Sunday and was expected to finalize on May 20. Production was scheduled for February 2001.
Earlier, SMPEC's general manager and director Tadashi Kude told the provincial governor that the Koposang area contains an estimated oil reserve of 300 million barrels. (*)