Hi sandybeachs,After reading through some of the info on PNOC...

Hi sandybeachs,
After reading through some of the info on PNOC Exploration Corporation webs site, it is interesting the comment by them on SC59 which is directly below Otto's SC55,

"PNOC EC continued the seismic interpretation and basin evaluation of the area. Several prospects have been mapped and a detailed seismic program was designed over them to upgrade them into drillable targets. Recent hydrocarbon discoveries on the Malaysian side, such as the Murphy Oil gas discovery around 40 kilometers southwest, have made this block attractive to oil companies.

Being a deepwater block where exploration costs are expensive, PNOC EC sought a strategic partner through public bidding (pursuant to E.O. 556). Discussions are currently on-going with a prospective party, who has qualified as a possible joint venture partner."

As we know BHP has farmed in here.

From the Murphy oil Web Site on Malaysia.

"Malaysia

Offshore Sabah, Malaysia:

The most significant impact project Murphy has lies in deepwater Malaysia offshore Sabah. After a rocky beginning, with announced dry holes at the Bagang and Bliais prospects, Murphy achieved tremendous success at the Kikeh prospect (80%). Located in 4,400 feet of water, the Kikeh discovery lies in the southern part of Block K and is the first deepwater oil discovery ever made in Malaysia. The initial well found in excess of 500 net feet of oil pay and Murphy quickly moved to drill more wells to appraise the size of the structure. The average net pay of the three wells and two associated sidetracks was 400 to 600 feet. Furthermore, all oil pay sands appeared to be in communication and were full to base with oil. During 2003, a different well location on the Kikeh structure was drilled, cored, then production tested, to help further define both reserves and oil flow characteristics. A formal sanctioning of the $1.5 billion, 440 million barrel project was announced in 2004 and includes the tie-in of a nearby discovery at Kikeh Kecil.

The Kikeh development is being executed extremely well with the field expected to begin producing in the second half of 2007 an impressive five years after the discovery and within the original schedule. The topside modules have been installed on the FPSO and the SPAR is on location with the mating of the hull and topsides complete. A total of 20 producing wells have been drilled all of which were completed on schedule and on budget as the field is drilling out as envisioned. We expect the initial field production rate to be 40,000 barrels a day with a one year ramp up to plateau of 120,000 barrels a day, which will provide meaningful production growth for Murphy from the latter half of 2007 through 2008.

Kikeh Crude Assay Analysis

Kikeh Development Project Brochure

Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia:

Murphys initial success in Malaysia was offshore Sarawak in 2002 where our first well found the West Patricia field (85%), located approximately 25 miles from the coast. The field was quickly appraised and brought on stream within 18 months a record in Malaysia. West Patricia produces from a well jacket to a floating storage facility and continues to produce at levels above 20,000 barrels a day. The establishment of a production center at West Patricia will allow Murphy to fully develop its surrounding acreage, including the Congkak oil discovery which is already been routed through the facility as well as perhaps the Endau, Rompin and Permas discoveries yet to be fully appraised and sanctioned.

Murphy has also continued its string of successful exploration on our two blocks offshore Sarawak, adding natural gas discoveries to our growing inventory at Pemanis, Serandah, Gasing, Wangsa, Tiram and Sapih during 2006. Murphy has signed a Gas Sales Agreement to develop several of our discoveries. The project includes the development of several fields which will supply natural gas to a nearby LNG facility beginning in 2009. Production volumes are expected to be as high as 350 million cubic feet a day and cover up to 15 years. This project will complement our Kikeh oil production in Malaysia (see Offshore Sabah, Malaysia above) as well as West Patricia, and will serve as a predictable and low decline anchoring asset in our international portfolio."


And PNOC Exploration Corporation comments on SC63 which is above SC55.

" SC 63, or the East Sabina block, covers an area of 10,560 square kilometers located in offshore southwest Palawan. It was awarded by the DOE on November 24, 2006 to the joint venture of PNOC EC and Nido Petroleum. Each company holds 50% with PNOC EC as the operator.



The processing of 3,254 line kilometers of 2D seismic data acquired in 2007 by CGG Veritas was completed. Reprocessing of 1,042 line kilometers of old 2D seismic data also started during the year. The ongoing seismic interpretation identified several prospects and leads that were successful in both offshore northwest Palawan and Sabah. PNOC EC and the DOE started specialized geological studies of the wells drilled in the block to better understand the petroleum reservoirs of the area.



Being mostly a deepwater acreage, PNOC EC is looking for a strategic partner. This was done through public bidding (under E.O. 556)."

It would seem that BHP may be positioning themselves for a major play in the Palawan SC area. If SC55 looks better for a successful drilling project than any other prospect we may see a target being drilled sooner than we think.
IF the Murphy discovery is any thing to go by, if and when a target in Sc55 is drilled, it just might turn out to be a emormous elephant!


The more information that unfolds on and around SC55, the more I am getting to like the prospect. Roll on a Positive BHP/ OEL farm in announcement.

IMO DYOR.