By an OGJ correspondent
LIMA, Oct. 22 -- The feasibility study for the Camisea LNG export project led by Hunt Oil Co., Dallas, should be completed by yearend, according to Carlos del Solar, Hunt's general manager in Peru.
The engineering and design studies are due within 3 weeks, to be followed by a marketing and environmental impact analysis by yearend.
Hunt expects a decision on the LNG export project within first quarter 2003.
France's TotalFinaElf SA and Algeria's Sonatrach reportedly have expressed an interest in joining an LNG export concession, and both companies have shown interest in taking shares in the Camisea project. Sonatrach already holds a 10% interest in the upstream project.
TotalFinaElf has been seeking a share in Camisea since it ran second to Peru's Pluspetrol SA in the auction for the Camisea field development.
Pluspetrol is looking for a buyer for its share in Transportadora de Gas del Peru in the downstream concession and could possibly also sell part of its share in the upstream, said Alberto Moons, Pluspetrol's international business vice-president. He maintains, however, that Pluspetrol will continue to be the upstream operator.
Pluspetrol holds 36% in the concession for the development and production of the Camisea natural gas and condensates and 19.2% in the transport concession. Hunt Oil holds the same percentages (OGJ Online, Oct. 8, 2002).
