Conoco's Indonesia president and general manager, Mr Patrick Meyer, said the company remained focused on Block B in the Natuna Sea where all its current production comes from and planned to double crude output and quadruple gas production before the end of the decade.

Conoco pumps out about 44,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), mainly from its Belida field, which was developed a decade ago. The company said production at Belida is expected to decline over the next few years until Belanak oil and gas field starts up, which will bring output back up to 60,000 bopd.

Belanak is being developed using a FPSO and is due to begin production in the third quarter of 2004. Conoco said its crude output was expected to double from today's level to about 80,000 bopd by 2007 with the bulk coming from Belanak.

In recent times Conoco Indonesia has shifted its focus to gas production, partly due to changes in the company's global strategy but also due to more attractive incentives offered by Pertamina.