Unocal starts drilling in West Seno

JAKARTA: American energy firm Unocal Corporation says its subsidiary Unocal Makassar Ltd has started the first phase of its drilling program to develop the deepwater West Seno field offshore East Kalimantan.

"This is a significant milestone towards first deepwater production for Unocal and Indonesia," said Brian W.G. Marcotte, president of Unocal Makassar Ltd in a statement on Thursday.

The field is scheduled to come on production in mid-June this year with an initial production of 12,000 and 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). Production will be steadily increased to 40,000 bopd by year end.

Phase two will start two years after phase-one production starts. It will raise oil output to 60,000 bopd and gas output to 150 million cubic feet per day in 2005.

Ultimate recovery from the field is expected to be 210 million and 320 million barrels of oil equivalent. -- JP