Sweden’s Lundin Petroleum has come up dry with an exploration well on the Baronang production sharing contract in the Natuna Sea, off Indonesia.

The Balqis-1 well was drilled to a total depth of 2109 metres and hit the targeted Oligocene Upper and Lower Gabus formation sandstone in well developed reservoirs but Lundin said no hydrocarbons were found.

Prior to drilling Lundin had estimated the Balqis prospect to potentially hold 47 million barrels of oil equivalent in unrisked, gross prospective resources.

The company will now plug and abandon the lower section of the well and commence drilling the Boni-1 exploration sidetrack below the Balqis-1 casing shoe.

Boni-1 is being drilled to a total depth of 2300 metres to test the stratigraphic on-lap play of the Lower Gabus formation sandstones against the basement about 800 metres west of the vertical Balqis-1 well.

Lundin estimates the Boni prospect to potentially hold an unrisked gross, prospective resources of 55 million boe.

It expects the Boni-1 exploration sidetrack to take about five days to drill using the jack-up Hakuryu-11.

Lundin has secured the rig for three wells, including Balqis and Boni, with the third well, Gobi-1, to be drilled on the Gurita PSC to the south-west of the Baronang PSC.

The Swedish company holds an 85% operated stake in the Baronang PSC and is partnered by Australia’s Nido Petroleum with the remaining 15% interest.