Inpex finds gas in Timor Sea

Inpex Masela Ltd., the subsidiary of Japanese oil and gas firm Indonesia Petroleum Ltd (INPEX), has found gas and condensate at the Masela Block in Timor Sea, state oil and gas company Pertamina said on Friday.

Spokesman for Pertamina's foreign contractors management body (BPPKA) Sidick A. Nitikusuma said in a statement to Petromindo.Com Inpex had completed layer content tests on the Abadi-1 well, which is the first exploration well at the block, situated 800 kilometers east of the West Nusa Tenggara province's capital of Kupang and 400 kilometers north of the Australian town of Darwin.

The well flows gas at the rate of 25 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) and condensate at the rate of 260 barrels per day.

The well is located 457 meters below sea level and was drilled to the depth of 4,230 meters, Sidick said.

It is the first discovery well in the Indonesian territory of Timor Sea, while gas and condensate discoveries have been made at several wells in the Australian territory of the sea, including at the Sunrise, Troubador and Evans Shaols wells.

Sidick said further exploration activities would be conducted to assess the economic value of the Abadi-1 well.

The Masela block covers 5,725 kilometer area with sea depth of between 300 meters and 1,000 meters. (Bodega)