Malampaya’s ‘critical test’ is coming

For years, Malampaya has been like a reality show where nobody knows if there’s still gas left—just a lot of suspense and expert “guesses.” But this season, the season finale may finally drop—and it’s interesting to see if we’d struck energy gold or we’re up for a frustrating plot twist.

- MYRNA M. VELASCO

The upcoming drilling isn’t just about hunting for more gas; it’s also the prime moving ground for Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., the new operating entity for Malampaya, to prove it has the technical chops to not only tap into what’s left but also to stretch the field’s operating life cycle.

Last year, Razon-led Prime Energy made a major announcement that its highly anticipated drilling campaign would commence this year—with the targeted three well drilling poised to begin as early as May or June—so that’s just roughly a month away from now. Yet, as the clock ticks toward the targeted start, the field operator remains conspicuously muted as to its next move—leaving everyone to wonder if the silence is strategic… or a sign of something deeper brewing beneath the surface.

To push forward with its drilling program, Prime Energy previously locked in a $69.9-million contract with American firm Noble—enabling it to deploy its “Noble Viking” subsea vessel for the scheduled drilling of at least three new wells—two aimed at shoring up production across the Camago and Malampaya East fields; and the third well drilling targeting the uncharted depths of the Bagong Pagasa block, 15 kilometers (km) north of Malampaya.