INPEX Acquires 100 Percent Stake in Babar Selaru Block, Offshore Indonesia

INPEX CORPORATION announced that through its subsidiary INPEX Banda Sea, Ltd., INPEX and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) have been granted the approval of the Indonesian Government to acquire the 100% participating interest in the Babar Selaru Block on the Indonesian First Bidding Round 2011.

INPEX Banda will conduct the exploration activity as the operator.

INPEX and JOGMEC conducted a joint study for oil and gas exploration in the prospective area in the Eastern part of Indonesia in December 2009, with the permission given by the Indonesian Government. INPEX and JOGMEC further conducted a two-dimensional seismic survey and other exploratory studies until December 2010. Based on the findings of this joint study, the Indonesian Government designated the “Babar Selaru Block” as a potential oil and gas exploration area, which was then offered as one of the open bidding blocks in the Indonesian First Bidding Round 2011.

The Block is located 100km southwest of the Saumlaki City in Tanimbar Islands and covers 8,170km2 with a water depth ranging from 200m to 2000m. Being located 60km northwest of the Abadi gas field in the Masela Block, where INPEX is engaged in developing as the operator, the Block is expected to be a promising area of oil and gas discovery.

INPEX has a 50% interest in the Offshore Mahakam Block with the largest gas production in Indonesia. INPEX is also engaged in developing the large scale Abadi LNG project in the Masela Block, the Arafura Sea, for which INPEX is now preparing for the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) as the operator.

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LNG World News Staff, November 21, 2011