The Chenda-2 appraisal well is being drilled by Velesto Energy’s jack-up Naga 6. The drilling operations, which are scheduled to complete around mid-January, are being supported by three Malaysia-flagged vessels — Perdana Horizon, Permata Ratu and Bahtera Hamos.
PTTEP is not known to have ever disclosed reserves estimates for the Chenda oil and gas field although it has described the discovery as “remarkable”.
The offshore field, which was made by last year’s Chenda-1 wildcat, is expected to be exploited via a cluster development with a tie-back to the Sirung field understood to be the likely route to exploitation.
Subsea infrastructure would then tie in the Sirung platform to Petronas Carigali’s existing D35 facilities. Production start-up from Sirung is being targeted in the first half of 2027, Upstream earlier reported.
The Block SK 405B development concept selection was finalised and has already been approved by the Malaysian government.
PTTEP and Malaysian counterpart Petronas Carigali in late 2023 agreed to team up to facilitate the development of Block SK 405B that hosts oil and gas discoveries including Sirung and its Chenda satellite.
“In Sarawak, we have a number of developments forthcoming including… SK 405B. We highly appreciate and value this collaboration a lot since it will enable the parties to advance the success of our projects," PTTEP’s Malaysia country manager, Kanok Intharawijitr, earlier said.
PTTEP acquired the SK 405B production sharing contract via its acquisition of US independent Murphy Oil’s Malaysian assets. The Thai company currently operates the asset with a 49.5% interest on behalf of co-venturers Moeco (Mitsui) having 25.5% and Petronas Carigali on 25%.
Also, offshore Sarawak, PTTEP in 2025 expects to drill another commitment exploration well on Block SK 417 that is home to its Dokong and Nangka discoveries, and drill a commitment wildcat on Block SK 438. The following year, the operator envisages further exploration drilling offshore Malaysia including two wells on Block SK 314A offshore Sarawak.
