Unocal finds oil in Rapak

JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina announced on Wednesday that its American contractor, Unocal Indonesia, has discovered an oil reserve at its Rapak production sharing contract area in East Kalimantan.

Pertamina said it was the first oil discovery to be made by the company in the contract area.

The oil was found at the Janaka North #1 well, with thickness of 55 feet (high quality reservoir) at an absorption rate of more than 35 percent.

The well was drilled at 9,625 feet below sea level -- the deepest well ever drilled in the country's waters. The sea in the area is 4,319 feet deep.

President and managing director of Unocal Indonesia Timothy C. Lauer praised the quality of the oil reserves. He said the discovery encouraged the company to perform more drilling in the area. (jsk)