PT Radiant Bukit Barisan E&P will conduct oil and gas analysis in the South West Bukit Barisan block in West Sumatra for three years starting early next year before starting exploration, says its director.

President director of publicly listed PT Radiant Utama Interinsco Syofwan Farisyi also said on Thursday his company would acquire data before commencing exploration to avoid high cost risks.

Radiant Utama is the parent company of Radiant Bukit.

"Previously, other companies carried out exploration by referring to old data with less effective results."

This poses higher risks because the cost of each exploratory drilling site is around US$4 million. So we will initially carry out seismic studies," Syofwan said.

According to Syofwan, the company will conduct geological, geophysical and seismic studies for a 200 kilometers square area.

Despite that, the company has not yet determined the exact points for the seismic studies as the block spans an area, encompassing five regencies -- Tanahdatar, Solok, Sijunjung, Dharmasraya and Limapuluh Kota.

"Exploration would definitely cover land belonging to individuals, and that's why we call on the West Sumatra provincial administration to socialize the project to the public," he said.

He said the block was forecast to hold only 174 billion cubic feet of gas and 34 million barrels of treat oil, thus being regarded as medium scale.

Four oil exploration companies have so far exploited the block, formerly known as the Singkarak block, including PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia in 1972.

That company discontinued exploration due to limited deposits, as well as distribution snags and plummeting oil prices at that time.

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