Salamander Energy plc, the Asia focussed independent oil and gas exploration and production company, announces that the Trident-1X jack up rig has arrived at the Dambus-1 ('Dambus') location in the Kutai PSC, East Kalimantan, Indonesia and drilling operations have commenced. Salamander holds a 23.4% interest in the Kutai PSC.
The Dambus exploration well will be drilled to a depth of approximately 2,700 metres sub sea and is targeting multiple stacked deltaic sandstone reservoirs of Upper Miocene age. The mean gross pre-drill estimate of prospective recoverable resource is c. 130 MMbo and 300 Bcf of gas. The well will be drilled in a water depth of 85 metres and is expected to take approximately 40 days to complete on a dry hole basis.
On completion of the Dambus well the rig will move to the Marindan prospect in the south of the Kutai PSC.
James Menzies, Chief Executive of Salamander, said:
'The Kutei basin is one of the most prolific in Indonesia, having produced over 2 billion barrels of oil and 20 Tcf of gas. Dambus is the first of a two well back to back programme in the block. In addition, the Angklung prospect in the Salamander-operated Bontang PSC is expected to spud before the end of September.'