Page 5 - AsianOil Week 43 2020

AsianOil SOUTH ASIA AsianOil

phase of development at Gambat South’s Gas sub-basin, via the operated Morgandh X-1
Processing Facility IV (GPF-IV) – which will well, and the other via the Bitro-1 well in the
boost production from 36 mmcf (1.02 mcm) OMV-operated Latif block. Morgandh X-1 is
per day to 70 mmcf (1.98 mcm) per day, as expected to open up a new hydrocarbon region
well as install oil and gas production facilities in Balochistan Province, where insurgents con-
at Dhok Sultan. tinue to attack strategic targets as they demand
Khan said PPL wanted to enhance produc- provincial independence.
tion from existing fields and discoveries, while A convoy belonging to state-run Oil and Gas
continuing its exploration drive in frontier Development Corporation Ltd (OGDCL) was
basins and at tight and shale gas prospects. attacked by separatist militants in Balochistan
PPL announced two discoveries in the last Province earlier this month, leaving at least 14
year – one in the challenging KalatPlateau people dead.™

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Petronas awards multi-

client 3D seismic survey

PROJECTS & MALAYSIA’S state-owned Petronas has awarded
COMPANIES a multi-year 3D seismic survey to a consortium
of PGS, TGS and WesternGeco.
The three service providers will acquire up to
105,000 square km of multi-sensor, multi-client
3D data in the Sarawak Basin, according to a
joint announcement made on October 26.
The consortium expects the contract to allow for
a multi-phase programme to promote exploration
efforts in the prolific Sarawak East Natuna Basin.
The partners have begun holding talks with
upstream players in order to secure prefunding
ahead of the planned survey, which will cover
both open blocks and areas of existing farm-in
opportunities.
In the joint statement, the three firms said the Image: PGS
new award followed their ongoing campaign off- Petronas, for one, has said it will slash its
shore Sabah State, which has acquired and licensed capex this year by 21% to MYR39bn ($9.36bn)
more than 50,000 square km of 3D seismic data. from a planned MYR50bn ($12.01bn), while its
The Sabah contract was awarded in 2016. operational expenditure will be 12% lower.
PGS’ executive vice president of sales and ser- The company has also confirmed recent
vices, Nathan Oliver, said: “With this new award, reports that it is cutting jobs at its Yetagun off-
we are able to expand the multi-client coverage shore natural gas field in Myanmar as part of a
into the Sarawak region to increase exploration wider operational review. The state major began
and enhance production activities.” downsizing its team at the start of September,
The president of digital and integration at The Myanmar Times reported on September
WesternGeco parent Schlumberger, Rajeev Son- 23, with further staff cuts planned for December
thalia, said: “Modern data will be used both to and March 2021.
enhance existing production assets and develop “Petronas is currently conducting a review
new play concepts in areas where legacy data has of its business portfolio and operations due to
failed to provide the insight needed to find new the challenging market conditions. The busi-
opportunities with a high degree of confidence.” ness review includes Pertronas’ upstream oper-
The news of the contract award is a shot in ations in Myanmar, whereby its subsidiary, PC
the arm for the Malaysian upstream, given devel- Myanmar (Hong Kong) Ltd (PCML) will be
oper announcements in recent months that undertaking cost optimisation measures for its
capital expenditure budgets would be trimmed operations,” the company told Malaysian finan-
during the global economic downturn. cial daily The Edge on October 21.™

Week 43 29•October•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P5