Italian major Eni (40%), Pertamina (30%) and the UK's Neptune Energy (30%) have won rights to the West Ganal exploration block in the Kutei Basin in Indonesia's offshore, Eni said on Monday in a statement.
West Ganal covers an area of about 1,129 square kilometers adjoining the Eni operated Muara Bakau and East Sepinggan gross split production sharing contract in the Makassar Strait offshore East Kalimantan, the statement noted.
"This award expands Eni’s position and upstream activities in the East Kalimantan’s Kutei Basin, which is one of the most promising hydrocarbon provinces in Indonesia," said the statement.
The block includes the Maha discovery with in place gas resources estimated in excess of 600 billion standard cubic feet of gas and further exploration potential.
The new project will further boost "the availability and flexibility" of Indonesia' gas supply and of that for export, as well as strengthening Eni’s position in the liquified natural gas (LNG) market in Asia-Pacific, the statement added.
The West Ganal exploration block award reinforces Eni's strategic cooperation in the Kutei Basin with Pertamina and Neptune, which are already partners in the producing Jangkrik field, the statement said.
West Ganal's development and time-to-market will benefit from the the facilities of the nearby Jangkrik deepwater field operated by Eni in the Muara Bakau block, the statement said.
Eni began production from the Jangkik field in May 2017. In April 2018, the company also gained approval for its development plan for the Merakes discovery located in East Sepinggan production sharing contract, according to the statement.
Eni has been operating in Indonesia since 2001 and currently has a wide portfolio with in fourteen permits in the exploration and production, as well as development assets.
