REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesian state oil and gas company, Pertamina, is studying several oil and gas blocks in Indonesia and abroad, planning to explore ten of them.
"At this stage we cannot mention them, but we are reviewing 10 blocks," Upstream Director of Pertamina, Muhammad Husen, said on Thursday. He added that 60 percent of the blocks were located in Indonesia.
Pertamina expects to increase its oil production up to 20,000 barrel per day. He admitted that Pertamina only had little portion of oil and gas fields abroad.
Husen explained that Pertamina still processed its acquisition for 32 percent share of Petrodela SA in Venezuela. Pertamina spends 725 million USD to acquire the shares from US gas and oil company, Harvest Natural Resources Inc (HNR).
Director of Investment Plan and Risk Management of Pertamina, Afdhal Bahaudin, said Pertamina planned to spend 18 trillion IDR to acquire the block. He ensured that Pertamina would acquire only productive blocks.
Besides Venezuela, Pertamina has acquired five blocks in 2012. Through its subsidiary, Pertamina Hulu Energy (PHE), Pertamina acquired 100 percent interest of three subsidiaries of Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC in Indonesia, which are Anadarko Ambalat Limited, Anadarko Bukat Limited, and Anadarko Indonesia Nunukan Company. Those three companies own several block in Kalimantan and Nunukan. Per January 27, 2013, Pertamina produces 120,000 barrel oil per day, while its gas production reaches 1.04 million MMSCFD.