By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Sept. 19 -- Indonesia has awarded Amerada Hess Corp. and Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd. the Tanjung Aru Block in the Makassar Straits off Kalimantan.
The award is subject to presidential approval and execution of the production-sharing contract. Amerada Hess would operate the block with 50%, while the subsidiary of Malaysia's state oil and gas company would hold the rest.
Tanjung Aru covers 4,160 sq km in 150-1,700 m of water in the Kutei basin. Unocal Corp.'s Ranggas and West Seno discoveries are in that basin.
Petronas Carigali and Amerada Hess have purchased 1,477 sq km of 3D seismic data on the block. They plan to drill at least three exploration wells.
Petronas Carigali holds 50% interests in two other Indonesian blocks, Pasemah in South Sumatra and Ketapang off East Java.
