Total Found News Gas Field Offshore Indonesia

France's oil and gas giant Total announces two new gas discoveries in the southern part of the offshore Mahakam block, some 45 kilometres from Balikpapan in Indonesia.

These discoveries lie a few kilometres from the Stupa field and strengthen the potential of this field. A development plan for the Stupa field was submitted in July 2007 to the Indonesian authorities.

Both drilled in about 60 metres water depth, the two wells East Mandu-1 and West Stupa-1 respectively encountered 164 and 72 metres of good quality gas bearing reservoirs. These two discoveries are planned to be developed in connection with the development of the Stupa field which shall be sanctioned in the coming months for an entry into production expected by 2012.

The drilling of the well East Mandu-1 was particularly sensitive regarding the control of pressures and fluids. Its successful completion was allowed by Total’s technological capacities and the Group’s experience gained as operator of the offshore Mahakam block for the last 36 years. These works were carried out with the Indonesian company PT Apexindo Pratama Duta Tbk, with which Total has five drilling rigs in operation in Indonesia.