MALAYSIA’S national oil corporation, Petronas, is conducting survey work for oil and gas in its offshore blocks in southern Myanmar, a senior geologist from the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) said.

Petronas is exploring the M-16, M-17 and M-18 blocks, which range in size from 13,500 to 14,200 square kilometres, off the coast of Thanintharyi Division.
“I think the test well drilling will be made in October. At present it is still in the survey stage,” the geologist said.

The company was looking to hire a ship for the deep water drilling, he added.

The geologist said the blocks had been explored by the MOGE twenty years ago and he thought there was a good chance of finding oil and gas there. “But we didn’t make any drilling at that time,” he added.

Petronas acquired the rights to exploit the M-15, M-16, M-17 and M-18 blocks four years ago.