The company said its Pendalian-3 well, in the West Kampar production-sharing contract in central Sumatra, was yesterday being drilled ahead at a depth of 450m in an 8.5-inch hole towards a total depth of 748m.

Once drilling finishes, operator Sumatera Persada Energi plans to run wireline logging over the well, before casing it and running a 14-day multi-zone testing program.

Pendalian-3 is appraising the oil field discovered in 1993 by the Pendalian-1 well, a cored slim hole, which encountered oil zones at depths ranging from 250-500m.

Participants in the West Kampar PSC are: PT Sumatera Persada Energi (operator and 55%) and Oilex (45%).

Meanwhile in India, Oilex as operator is about to start drilling the Bhandut-2Z sidetrack from a depth of 413m in the original Bhandut-2 wellbore.

The sidetrack well will be deviated to intersect the objective Miocene G sand, 90m northwest of the surface location.

“The surface location is near to the inferred edge of the oil reservoir at the level of the G sand, and the intent is to deviate the well as far as possible to a structurally higher location,” Oilex said.

“The crest of the structure at this level is about 500 metres to the northwest of the Bhandut-2 location and will be the optimal site of drilling later in the development program for Bhandut field.”

All wells drilled on Bhandut to date are on the southeastern flank of the structural closure at this stratigraphic level.

Oilex is planning a comprehensive data gathering program, after which it will decide the most appropriate way to complete the well for production.

Oilex holds a 40% stake in the Bhandut Production Sharing Contract, while co-venturer Gujurat State Petroleum Corporation has 60%.