9 Apr 2013

Chevron hoping to drill for oil and gas in West Papua

4:38 am on 9 April 2013

The US-based energy multinational Chevron is hopeful of beginning drilling for oil and gas in West Papua after completing a seismic survey of two exploration blocks in the eastern Indonesian province.

The Jakarta Post reports that Chevron aims to review the results of the survey as soon as possible before deciding when it could start drilling.

The leading crude oil producer in Indonesia, Chevron holds a 51 percent operating interest in the two West Papua exploration blocks in Kaimana and Fakfak.

The remaining interest is held by British corporation BP, which currently operates the massive Tangguh gas project in Teluk Bintuni, West Papua.

According to data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Chevron has invested almost 7 billion US dollars into its West Papua interests since winning exploration rights for the two blocks in 2008.