ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) and India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) have signed a heads of agreement covering deepwater exploration off the east and west coasts of India. The news bodes well for ONGC, which recently pledged to boost exploration investment by 150% to $4 billion.
Indonesian upstream regulator SKK Migas has confirmed that Repsol’s (BME:REP) Kali Berau Dalam (KBD) gas discovery, initially thought to be the country’s biggest find in 18 years, is significantly smaller than expected, putting the mega project in doubt.
The Indonesian government is directing national oil company Pertamina to buy Shell’s (LON:SHEL) 35% equity in the proposed Abadi liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the Masela Block offshore Indonesia that is led by Japan’s Inpex (TYO:1605).
Newly elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr reiterated his support for more renewable energy, as well as nuclear power, and natural gas, in the Philippines, one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economies. The news comes as plans to import maiden liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes into the country have stuttered due to surging global prices.
Spain’s Repsol has started drilling the much-anticipated Rencong-1X wildcat in the frontier deepwaters of Indonesia’s North Sumatra basin in the Andaman III Block.
BP (LON:BP) and Reliance are expected to start commissioning of the MJ gas development in the KG D6 deepwater Block offshore eastern India later this year. The MJ field will have an annual average production capacity of 90 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed).
Indonesia, which is seeking to significantly boost oil and gas production this decade, is today launching its first 2022 bid round. Six blocks are up for grabs, offering a range of exploitation, near-field and frontier high-impact opportunities.
Chain National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is offering 13 offshore exploration oil and gas blocks to foreign companies as part of its 2022 bidding round.
Italy’s Eni (BIT:ENI) is offering to sell its Krueng Mane Block offshore Aceh in Indonesia to London-listed Harbour Energy (LON:HBR), reported Indonesian upstream regulator SKK Migas. Significantly, the potential acquisition seems logical given that Harbour’s recent exploration success could trigger a new development area in the region.
South Korea’s Samsung Engineering has won a $680 million engineering, procurement, construction and project management contract to build an onshore gas plant for Shell’s Rosmari Marjoram development in Sarawak, Malaysia.
TotalEnergies’ (LON:TTE) is planning to explore a large undrilled shallow-water gas prospect in the Cape Vogel basin offshore Papua New Guinea (PNG) after signing a technical cooperation agreement with Australia’s Lakes Blue Energy.
UK-listed Harbour Energy (LON:HBR) has announced initial success at its play-opening deepwater Timpan-1 exploration well offshore Indonesia in the North Sumatra basin. Significantly, the initial result bodes well for the frontier area and could open up more petroleum plays, which are thought to be gas prone.
Thailand’s upstream natural gas sector is struggling to reverse falling output due to bad planning and policy from the government, coupled with a seeming lack of innovation at PTT Exploration & Production (BKK:PTTEP), a state-backed company, that is taking increasing control of the country’s gas resources.
In a boost for Indonesia, BP (LON:BP) has today signed the 30-year production sharing contracts (PSC) for Agung l and Agung ll deep-water oil and gas exploration blocks with the government of Indonesia. The areas are underexplored with significant potential for natural gas resources, close to expanding gas demand markets.
Indonesia’s Medco Energi (IDX:MEDC) is on the lookout for more merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities in Southeast Asia after successfully buying ConocoPhillips Indonesian assets in a $1.355 billion deal struck last year.
Australian company Timor Resources said it will drill three more exploration wells onshore East Timor after certifying 24.2 million barrels of oil and 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas reserves from its first two onshore wells.
Philippine billionaire Enrique Razon will acquire a controlling stake in businessman Dennis Uy’s Malampaya gas project, in a move that may help extend the life of a field that fuels some of the nation’s biggest power plants. Significantly, Shell is also in the process of trying to divest its share of Malampaya.
The sad story that follows is based on the authors' personal experience as a director on the board of Pakistan Petroleum Limited between September 2014 and October 2018. He thought it important to document the events that transpired during that time so that perhaps the Government of Pakistan will take note and take corrective action. Though the damage done is severe, there may yet be time to salvage the situation.
Global and regional upstream activities, including in Southeast Asia, are rising, as more exploration and development projects are evaluated and approved. Yet, the drilling rig market in the region is not as exciting as it should be, especially with global oil prices ranging between $100 and $120 per barrel in recent months.
Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Petroleum has reached 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, for the first time in its history.
Singapore rig builder Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) will send another two jack-up rigs to the Middle East in a deal worth up to S$120 million (US$87.2 million) as the oil and gas market improves.
Thailand’s state-backed upstream player PTT Exploration & Production (PTTEP) is facing significant gas supply challenges that pose further downside risks to the Southeast Asian nation’s gas power sector, warned Fitch Solutions.
Upstream oil and gas projects with over 1.4 billion barrels of resources and $8.5 billion worth of greenfield investments are targeted for final investment decisions (FIDs) in Southeast Asia this year, based on operators’ plans, reported Rystad Energy. However, delays are likely with more activity expected to happen next year, noted the energy consultancy.
Inpex has started exploration drilling offshore Japan, which if successful could mark the nation’s first new offshore gas development in over three decades.
Japanese offshore drilling company Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. (JDC) will drill up to 10 wells for Petronas offshore Malaysia with its semi-submersible Hakuryu-5.