ExxonMobil to start offshore exploration drilling
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American oil and gas giant ExxoMobil will start its first exploratory drilling off the central coast of Vietnam late next month.
The decision was agreed upon at a city on March 30 between leaders of the People's Committee of Da Nang City and representatives from ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Vietnam Ltd.
The drilling will be conducted at block 119 on the continental shell offshore from Quang Ngai Province and Da Nang City. Phung Tan Viet, vice chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee asked the company to strictly guarantee technical requirements to avoid environmental pollution. The two sides also discussed plans to ensure safety during oil-rigs construction.
Viet also ordered the city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to inform fishermen not to use the exploration area during the 40 days of drilling.
According to reports from state-owned Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), Vietnam's crude oil reserve in 2010 was estimated at 4.4 billion barrels. The crude oil and gas exploration output in 2010 reached 15.1 million metric tons and 9.4 billion metric tons, respectively.
