VRJ Petroleum is planning to finalise the development plan for the Doi Moi discovery in Block 9-03 at the latest by the third quarter of 2008 with the aim of starting production in 2010, according to a company spokesperson at one of the joint venture partners. The field is expected to produce between 15,000 and 20,000 b/d of oil when it comes on stream in 2010.

VRJ Petroleum first discovered oil in the block in 2006 when an exploratory well flowed oil at 3,800 b/d, according to information on Idemitsu’s Web site. The joint venture recently used Transocean jackup Trident XVII to drill a third exploration well, which reportedly flowed 4,150 b/d of oil.

Block 9-03 covers an area of 3,300 square kilometres (1,274 sq miles) in water depth of 50 metres (164 ft), located near Vietsovpetro’s Bach Ho and Rong oil fields. VRJ Petroleum is in talks with Vietsovpetro to develop the enlarged southern Rong and Doi Moi oil fields jointly. The initial development plan is understood to include two wellhead platforms and four pipelines tied back to Vietsovpetro’s existing facilities in the Rong field.

Russia’s Zarubezhneft has a 50 per cent operating interest in the block. Partners are: PetroVietnam with 35 per cent interest and Idemitsu Cuu Long Petroleum Co. with 15 per cent interest.