Italy-based Eni SpA announced Dec. 19 that it drilled and tested its first deepwater well in the Merakes East prospect in the East Sepinggan block offshore Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Tests show the well, drilled to a depth of 3,400 meters beneath 1,592 meters of water, could deliver 70 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas and 1,000 barrels per day of associated condensate.

The prospect is located 33 km southeast of the Eni-operated Jangkrik field and 3 km east of the Merakes field, whose development was approved by Indonesian regulators and Eni's board of directors this month.

Eni said the discovery's proximity to existing infrastructure will reduce costs and development time.

Eni's production activities offshore Indonesia deliver in excess of 650 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas.