British Gas spuds oil well

JAKARTA (JP): British Gas International Indonesia (BG) announced yesterday that on May 31 it spudded Nambumbi-1, an exploration well located in the Muturi concession in Irian Jaya's Kepala Burung region.

BG said the Muturi block was held under a 1992 production- sharing contract with state oil company, Pertamina.

British Gas Exploration and Production, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BG plc, had a 50 percent interest, and Cairns Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Bhd, held 45 percent of the concession. A local company, PT Saptapetra Wisesa, held the remaining 5 percent.

BG said it and its partners planned continuous drilling this year in the southern part of the Muturi block with the prospect of further wells being drilled next year.

BG also operates the Malingping concession, off south-west Java. A seismic survey on the block has been completed and drilling will commence later this year. BG holds a 95-percent interest and PT Saptapetra Wisesa the remaining 5 percent in the Malingping concession. (pwn)