Petro Matad restarts Davsan Tolgoi operations as foot-and-mouth restrictions are lifted

Petro Matad (LON:MATD) has restarted operations at its Davsan Tolgoi prospect in Block XX, in Mongolia's Dornod Aimag Province, after the foot-and-mouth enforced restrictions were lifted. On 1 June, the company had to suspend operation, as the governor of Dornod Aimag imposed blanket vehicle and personnel movement restrictions in and out of the area.
The restrictions prevented supply trucks from reaching the DT-1 well, and none of the onsite personnel were permitted to leave.

This afternoon, Petro Matad confirmed that the movement of all personnel and vehicles is now unrestricted, and the company's management team was remobilised yesterday and is now onsite. Final preparations for drilling are underway and Petro Matad expects to spud the DT-1 well during the week commencing 14 June 2010.

During the suspension, a skeleton crew remained on site along with the complete Chinese drilling team. The remaining personnel completed maintenance and preparatory work on the rig and infrastructure during the break.

Petro Matad has been preparing for the commencement of drilling of the DT-1 well when the disease hit the Dornod Aimag province, which hosts Davsan Tolgoi. Last month, the company announced that the 2009/2010 three-hole drilling programme on the Davsan Tolgoi prospect on the company's Block XX was due to restart shortly following the winter shutdown.

Back in February 2009 the Petroleum Authority of Mongolia (PAM) announced that the geological resources established by Petro China's subsidiary, Daqing Tamsag Mongolia, on Block XIX, saying that in-situ reserves amounted to approximately 900 million barrels of oil and 2.5 million cubic metres of gas. Petro Matad said it very cautiously welcomed this news and the possible positive aspects for its exploration of Block XX. Prior to the PAM estimates Petro Matad was working with Block XX having an unrisked prospective resource of 122 mmboe (million barrels) with a 37% chance of success.

Petro Matad also operates petroleum blocks Bogd Block IV and Ongi Block V, which jointly cover an area of approximately 71,000 square kilometres.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Comments

Popular posts from this blog