Oil exploration in Alegria

CEBU, Philippines - After the bad news of a typhoid outbreak that shook Alegria, Cebu, here comes some good news for the town.

The China International Mining Petroleum Co., Ltd. (CIMP) is set to pursue its oil exploration in barangays Montpeller and Madridejos.

Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Ramon Alan Oca and CIMP executives and Polyard Petroleum International Group Limited met Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday asking for support.

Since 2009, the CIMP has completed the seismic reprocessing and interpretation and surfaced geological investigations of the area while remote sensing study is being carried out covering 180 square kilometers.

The study will use a low-flying airborne laser survey technology to map structural features of the target areas for the seismic survey and drilling activities.

Preparations are ongoing for the conduct of an onshore seismic survey to acquire an estimated 250 line-kilometers of 2D and 30 square kilometers of 3D lines.

Equipment will be mobilized by November this year and survey proper will start in January 2012. Two wells will be drilled in September this year.

Garcia said there was a same survey conducted in the area long before, but this was abandoned after it was found that the oil is of no commercial quantity.

This prompted her to ask DOE if they could invite potential investors and check Alegria if there’s oil or gas of commercial quantity using modern technology.

Garcia hopes for positive results, seeing the tremendous impact not just for Alegria or Cebu but for the entire country. — (FREEMAN)