Sonoro Energy has moved forward with its Budong Budong appraisal well program in West Sulawesi, Indonesia by acquiring land and securing an environmental permit.
Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas had approved its environmental plan to carry out drilling for up to seven wells in Budong Budong PSC to offset the original LG-1 well.
Sonoro Energy has also selected PT Pontil, an Indonesian subsidiary of Canada-based Major Drilling Group International as the drilling contractor.
The Budong Budong appraisal well program will target the Lariang pliocene “415”, “450” and “490” sands.
Drilling of the appraisal well is likely to commence in early August, stated the Canada-based oil and gas exploration and development company. The date will be subject to the drilling rig getting through its function tests and an approval from SKK Migas for the drilling to commence.
Sonoro CEO and director Richard Wadsworth said: “We are very pleased with the rapid progress our team has made in a short amount of time to bring this appraisal well program together, given the number of contractors and local and national government authorities that we’ve been working with.
“Furthermore, a spud date in early August will be a significant achievement for this basin after many years of inactivity, despite the proven hydrocarbons produced here over a century ago.”
Following the land acquisition for the first appraisal well, Sonoro will move ahead with preparations to construct the land site to facilitate a drilling rig and its associated services.
The Canadian firm revealed that it is closing in on selecting contractors for most of the other drilling services related to the Budong Budong PSC appraisal well program. In the next several weeks, Sonoro expects to award the contracts.