Sidoarjo, E Java (ANTARA News) - Lapindo Brantas Inc is planning to drill deeper into five of its gas wells in Kalidawir Village, Tanggulangin Sub-District, Sidoarjo District, East Java Province, a spokesperson said.

"The deeper drilling is necessary to produce more natural gas to meet the need for gas nationally and in the district as planned by the Upstream Oil and Gas Executive Agency (BP Migas), Tariono, Lapindo Brantas Inc area manager, said here Friday.

According to Tariono, Lapindo Brantas Inc had five gas wells in Kalidawir Village and 20 others in Wunut Village, Sidoarjo.

"Since the Lapindo mudflow disaster in 2006, the company had stopped its activity in the area but now drilling operations to greater depths will be started this year," Tariono said.

Tariono said the deeper drilling operations would be conducted in five wells which were 3.400 feet deep, using a sideway drilling method which was considered safer than the vertical drilling method.

The company would have a dialogue with the local people to ask for permission for the project, Tariono said.

Tariono said, the project was secure as it would cover the same wells.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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