Petronas finds new gas deposits in S'wak, Sumatra, Australia

KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas today announced new gas discoveries in three of its upstream ventures in Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.
In a statement today, it said the first discovery was via the Pegaga-1 well in Block SK320, offshore Sarawak, which is operated by Mubadala Petroleum through a Malaysian affiliate. 
The Pegaga-1 well is located about 250 km northwest of Bintulu, in a water depth of 108 metres. 
"The operator plans to conduct further drilling to determine the volume of the discovery and the gas quality," the company said.
Its unit, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd has a 25% interest in the block.
The discovery in Block SK320 proved that there was still hydrocarbon potential in the Sarawak Basin, Petronas said. 
The company, together with its production sharing contractors, is actively exploring in the basin through exploration drillings, both in the shallow and deep water areas, as well as acquiring new seismic, electromagnetic and gravity data to unlock the undiscovered potential of the areas.
Several oil and gas multinationals have been successful in their recent exploration drilling in Sarawak with several notable discoveries such as NC3/NC8, B14, Tukau Timur Deep, Kuang North and Kasawari.
In Indonesia, PetroChina, the operator of and Petronas' partner in the onshore Jabung Block in Sumatra, has made a gas discovery through the NEB Base-1 well.
Petronas holds a 42.85% equity in the Jabung Block. 
Overall, the company is present in seven blocks in Indonesia, where it operates three of the ventures.
"SKK Migas, the government authority managing the activities of production sharing contractors in Indonesia, has been supportive of the joint venture's exploration efforts in the block," it said.
In Australia, the Evans Shoal North-1 appraisal well in the Evans Shoal gas field in the Timor Sea has been successfully drilled to the target depth of 3,955m. 
The partners in the NT/P48 joint venture are Shell (operator, 32.5%), Eni (32.5%), Petronas (25%) and Osaka Gas (10%).
The well is operated by Eni on behalf of the joint venture - Bernama.