BARRU OIL BLOCK DEPOSITS IN S SULAWESI TO BE ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST

Makassar, S Sulawesi, May 6 (ANTARA) - The result of a survey of the oil and gas deposits in the Segeri Block in Barru district, South Sulawesi province, will be announced in August 2009, a mineral resources official said.

"PT Talisman of Canada, which is exploring oil and gas reserves in the Segeri block will announce the result of it survey in August 2009," Head of the South Sulawesi Energy and Mineral Resources Service, Sampara Salman said here on Tuesday.

If the Segeri block which stretches from Pangkep waters to Parepare, has potential oil and gas reserves, PT Talisman will carry out follow-up explorations and develop an oil refinery in the region.

"I don't think they would carry out the initial explorations if they had not predicted enough oil and gas deposit in the block. After this they will drill wells," Salman said.

After the Segeri block, the director general for oil and gas affair will also offer to investors a number of other blocks believed to keep oil and gas reserves in South Sulawesi, Salman said.

The blocks included the Kambuna in Sembilan Sinjai island, the Karaeng block in Goa, the Takalar, the Jeneponto and the Selayar block, he said.

Other areas in South Sulawesi which may also hold oil and gas deposits included the Enrekang block in on-shore Enrekang and North Bone block in the Bone Gulf.***2***