Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources awarded the offshore Semai-V oil and gas block to a unit of Hess Corp. (HES), a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and PT Pertamina. The block was one of the nine oil and gas blocks that the government awarded, mostly to international companies. The Gunting Block was awarded to Esso Exploration International, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corp (XOM), while Lundin Oil won the bid for the Baronang and Cakalang blocks. Pearl Oil Ltd. bagged the offshore Kerapu Block.

The offshore Semai-II block was awarded to a consortium consisting of Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production PLC (PTTEP.TH), Japan's Inpex Corp. and Murphy Overseas Ventures Inc. SPC E&P Upstream Pte. Ltd. got the offshore Mahakam Hilir block. Sintezmorneftegaz, a unit of Russia's Sintez Group, won the offshore East Bawean I Block1. The Indonesian ministry stated that total investment during the exploration period in the nine blocks was expected to touch $465 million.

• 1. “Indonesia Awards Nine Oil, Gas Exploration Blocks,” Asia Energy, October 31, 2008, at http://asianenergy.blogspot.com/2008/10/indonesia-awards-nine-oil-gas.html