Update: ExxonMobil, TotalFinaElf studying tender for 11 exploration blocks

U.S. oil and gas giant ExxonMobil Corporation on Monday refused to comment on whether it will take part in the government?s tender for 11 oil exploration blocks formally opened late last month.

?We can not comment on our company?s forward plan concerning the tender,? company spokesperson Deva Rahman said when contacted by Petromindo.Com.

Earlier on Monday, oil and gas director general Iin Arifin Takhyan said ExxonMobil and TotalFinaElf were still studying tender documents issued by the government on the 11 blocks.

Meanwhile, no official of TotalFinaElf was available to comment when contacted.

The government formally offered the blocks late last month during an oil, gas and mining conference in Bali.

Meanwhile, Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI) president director Humayun Bosha was quoted as saying recently that ChevronTexaco, CPI?s parent company, was also considering to take part in the oil block tender.

The 11 blocks, mostly offshore, are located in Jambi (2), East Java (7), Central Java (1) and East Kalimantan (1) provinces. (godang)