China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) has started drilling in Block F, about 40km south of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, said Ek Tha, spokesperson for the Council of Ministers Press and Quick Reaction Unit.
Ek Tha said CNOOC’s CEO told Deputy Prime Minister HE Sok An that the company drilled its first well since it obtained the project in 2007.
The Prime Minister welcomed the drilling and inquired about the company’s decision in Block F.
The block covers over 7,000 sq km, and the first drilling project is expected to incur US$20 million in cost, said the National Petroleum Authority.
The start of the drilling comes after the civil society received an environmental impact assessment last month.
The Kingdom hopes to obtain its first drop of oil by the end-2012.
