Exxon Mobil Corporation plans to develop the Bintang field in the South China Sea to help meet growing gas demand in Malaysia. ExxonMobil, as operator, and its co-venturer, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, have accelerated the development of the Bintang field under the terms of its contract with Petronas. The cost of the development is USD 150 million. Approximately 1 trillion cubic feet of gas will be developed in the Bintang field, located 137 miles off the coast of Terengganu. Two remotely operated platforms, Bintang A and B, are scheduled to be installed in the third quarter 2002, with drilling planned to start in the fourth quarter, and gas production commencing shortly thereafter. Production will peak at around 355 million cubic feet per day. Bintang A and B, which will be 100 percent designed and constructed in Malaysia, are three-legged structures with capacity for 10 wells. Gas from the Bintang field will flow via seven miles of new pipeline to Lawit A for processing, and then to shore via existing pipelines.
