Gas, Oil Discovered In Sulu Sea

TAWI-TAWI, Philippines - Oil and gas exploration projects undertaken in the seas off Mapun Island in the Sulu archipelaggo near the southern Philippine province of Tawi Tawi have shown positive results.

According to reports, mining operations carried out by foreign and Filipino companies in the mid-sea off the Philippine island municipalities of Mapun and Taganak have discovered oil deposits estimated at 500 million barrels and some 1.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Tawi Tawi Governor, Sadikul Sahali expressed hope that this development will transform the province into a highly industrialized area that will strengthen the economy of the local constituency here.

“I received reports from various sources that ongoing exploration operations in Tawi-Tawi seas have proved the areas to be potential mining sites, but have no confirmation yet from mining concessionaires,” said Sadikul.

“I’m really hoping that the Philippines would be able to do away soon with problems of soaring price of oil that are presently a setback in the country’s economy.”

SULU: Transocean Legend Turns On Tap's Lumba Lumba 1

SULU, Philippines (July 22, 2008) - Tap Oil has started drilling on the SC41 permit Lumba Lumba-1 exploration well in Sulu Sea, off the Philippines.

Lumba Lumba-1 is being drilled by semisubmersible Transocean Legend to 3,000 metres (9,842 ft) deep in 1,100 metres (3,609 ft) of water. Drilling is expected to take about 20 days to complete. The wildcat will test a large inversion structure with multiple objectives in interpreted channel and fan complexes.

Lumba Lumba is a moderate risk prospect located in the central part of SC 41. It is covered by the 751-square kilometre (290-sq mile) Alpine 3D seismic survey, which was conducted in the third quarter of last year.

Tap owns 50 percent interest as operator of the SC41 permit area. Salamander Energy holds 35 percent interest. A group of Filipino participants holds the remaining 15 percent interest. (Energycurrent.com)

Yaman Ng Sulu Sea, Nasa Kuko Na Ng Mga Dayuhan!

TAWI-TAWI (Mindanao Examiner / 17 Jun) – Mistulang mga private security guards ang puwersa ng militar sa katimugang bahagi ng bansa na kung saan ay todo ang pagbabantay ng mga sundalong Pinoy sa naglalaking international consortium na nagsasagawa ng oil exploration sa Sulu Sea.

Lingid sa kaalaman ng publiko ay abala ang mga tropa sa pagbabantay sa karagatan upang masiguro ang interest ng mga dayuhan bansa, tulad ng Australia at Amerika, sa nasabing oil exploration. Posibleng ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit nagtayo ng kampo ang mga sundalong Kano sa lalawigan ng Sulu.

Dapat sana ay siguridad ng lalawigan ng Tawi-Tawi at Sulu ang bantayan ng husto dahil sa banta ng terorismo.

Nagkataon naman na ang dalawang bansa ay tumutulong sa Pilipinas sa pakikibaka sa terorismo. Kamakailan lamang ay lumagda ang Australia ng isangs security cooperation pact sa pamahalaang Arroyo upang makapagsagawa ng joint anti-terrorism warfare training sa Mindanao.

Nuong nakaraang linggo ay katatapos lamang ng Amerika at ng Pilipinas ng bisang joint amphibious training sa Sulu Sea. Hindi naman mabatid kung may kinalaman sa oil exploration ang mga salaping tinatanggap ng pamahalaang Arroyo at ginagamit sa anti-terror training mula sa Australia at Amerika.

Ang oil exploration ay pinangungunahan ng Australian firm BHP Billiton Petroleum at kasama nito ang Unocal Corp. at Amerada Hess ng Amerika.

Halos 8,000 square meters sa Sulu Sea ang oil exploration nito.Maging ang Tap Oil Ltd ng Australia ay may 85% interest rin sa oil exploration project Sulu Sea.

Bukod sa Australia at Amerika ay may interest rin diumano sa Sulu Sea oil exploration ang United Kingdom at New Zealand at lahat ng bansang ito ay may malaking kontribusyon rin sa pakikibaka ng pamahalaang Arroyo sa terorismo sa katimugan.

Hindi naman agad mabatid kung may pahintulot ang oil exploration mula sa pamahalaang ng Tawi-Tawi. (Mindanao Examiner)