INPEX Buys Stake in Two Blocks Offshore Sabah, Malaysia

INPEX has been granted the approval by PETRONAS, the national oil company of Malaysia, to acquire a 75% participating interest in the deepwater Block S, and a 37.5% participating interest in the deepwater Block R.

Both blocks are located offshore Sabah, Malaysia.

Block S

In Block S, INPEX Offshore North West Sabah, Ltd. will conduct exploration activities as the operator with a 75% participating interest, while PETRONAS will hold a remaining 25% participating interest.

The Block is situated some 120 km northwest off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, the state of Sabah, and it covers an area of 574km with a water depth ranging from 200m to 1,500m. The Block lies in the Sabah basin where large reserves of oil and natural gas , such as the Kikeh and the Gumusut- Kakap oil fields, have been discovered .

INPEX Offshore North West Sabah, Ltd., as the operator , will carry out a 3D seismic survey and other geological and geophysical studies, and plans to drill two exploration wildcat wells in around 2014 .

Block R

The plans for Block R are almost the same as the ones outlined above for the Block S. INPEX Offshore South West Sabah, Ltd. will conduct a 3D seismic survey and other geological and geophysical studies, and plans to drill three exploration wildcat wells in around 2014.  Block R is located 180km west off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, the state of Sabah, Borneo island, and it covers an area of 672 km2 with a water depth ranging from 100m to 1,400m.

This is the first case for INPEX to participate in oil and gas exploration activities in Malaysia since its business integration between the former INPEX CORPORATION and Teikoku Oil Co., Ltd. in 2008. INPEX plans to establish its newest liaison office in Kuala Lumpur this spring for its E&P business in Malaysia. It is expected that project opportunities in Malaysia will diversify and enhance INPEX’s global asset portfolio.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, January 17, 2012; Image: INPEX