Indonesia: Statoil, Niko get eastern frontier licenses

Nov. 21, 2011
Statoil has been awarded operatorship with 80% working interest in the Halmahera II frontier exploration block covering more than 8,000 sq km in eastern Indonesia.

Statoil has been awarded operatorship with 80% working interest in the Halmahera II frontier exploration block covering more than 8,000 sq km in eastern Indonesia.

Niko Resources will hold the remaining 20%. No drilling has occurred near the license, the award of which is subject to final governmental approval.

Halmahera II is Statoil’s sixth newly accessed license in Indonesia in 2011 and brings the number of licenses with Statoil interest in Indonesia to eight. Halmahera II is adjacent to the Obi and Halmahera-Kofiau licenses.

Statoil has been in Indonesia since 2007 when it was awarded operatorship of the Karama license and took partnership with ConocoPhillips in the Kuma license, both in the Makassar Straits. Statoil farmed into the Halmahera-Kofiau, North Makassar, and West Papua IV licenses in May 2011.

The company was awarded partnership In September 2011 in the North Ganal license in the North Makassar Strait and the Obi license in eastern Indonesia. Niko will operate North Ganal and Obi.