Indonesia
Pertamina discovered gas and oil at new wells in Gunung Kemala village in the Muara Enim district of South Sumatra.
Production could begin as early as 2004 from the field, which holds 590 bcf of gas and 230 million bbl of oil, OPEC News Agency reported.
Pertamina manages 55 south Sumatran fields, 32 of which are active. A spokesman said the wells on the active structures are estimated to have 120 million bbl of oil and 3.68 tcf of gas and produce 14,000 b/d of oil and 250 MMcfd of gas.
Iran
Malaysia's state Petronas Carigali Overseas Sdn. Bhd. acquired a 30% interest in the onshore Munir block from Edison International and Lundin Munir Ltd.
The acquisition leaves Edison with 40% and Lundin 30%.
Edison operates the block in the Zagros fold belt, where the firms are acquiring a 2D seismic survey. Drilling could begin in the second half of 2003.
New Zealand
The government launched a licensing round that covers the lightly explored Canterbury basin along the east coast of the South Island.
Five blocks are available by competitive staged work program bidding. Deadline is May 30, 2003. Four offshore wells drilled led to one gas-condensate discovery on each of two blocks.
One well, Galleon-1, flowed 10 MMcfd of gas and 2,300 b/d of condensate from Cretaceous Katiki coal measures at 2,752 m. One group assigned the discovery a resource potential of 104-280 million bbl (see maps, OGJ, Dec. 15, 1997, p. 57).
Nunavut
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development called for nominations of Crown reserve lands north of 60° N. Lat. in the Arctic Islands.
The deadline for nominations is Jan. 14, 2003.
Mississippi
TotalFinaElf E&P USA Inc., Houston, staked nine Knox-Ordovician wildcats in Oktibbeha County southeast of Maben gas field (see maps, OGJ, June 3, 2002, p. 30).
The wildcats, all projected to 17,000 ft, are in 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 16-, and 21-17n-14e, 10-15 miles southeast of Maben, which TFE has been developing for several years in the western Black Warrior basin, reported Southeastern Oil Review, Jackson, Miss. It said drilling was to begin in 2003.
The locations are 7-10 miles south of Starkville, Miss.
New Mexico
The Oil Conservation Division approved the application of Mallon Resources Corp., Denver, to conduct a pilot project to evaluate the effects of increase density drilling in portions of the East Blanco Unit in the eastern San Juan basin.
The Nov. 1 order authorizes Mallon to drill 25 increased density wells.
Of four exploratory wells drilled on the unit in the third quarter of 2002, three are to be completed in 2003. No other drilling is planned through yearend 2002.
Mallon shareholders are to vote in the first quarter on Mallon's acquisition by Black Hills Corp., Rapid City, SD (OGJ Online, Oct. 21, 2002).
Texas
East
Comstock Resources Inc., Frisco, Tex., placed its Hamman-1 discovery in Polk County south of Double A Wells field, on production at 18.6 MMcfed.
The well flowed with 9,250 psig FTP on a 21/64-in. choke from Cretaceous Woodbine perforations at 15,194-242 ft.
The company was to have spudded east and west offsets by yearend. The east offset was drilled to 14,000 ft by early November. Comstock, operator with 58% working interest, was to spud Collins-1 next.
Offshore
Davis Gulf Coast Inc., Tulsa, Okla., spudded a well near a company discovery in state waters off Mustang Island.
The discovery well, State of Texas Tract 882 S/2, flowed 6 MMcfd of gas and 110 b/d of oil on a 9/64-in. choke with 6,300 psi FTP from an undisclosed formation. TD is 12,280 ft.
