Premier Oil starting Vietnam, Indonesia production mid-2011

SINGAPORE, April 22 (Reuters) - UK oil and gas explorer Premier Oil PLC (PMO.L) said on Thursday it will start production at the 25,000 barrels per day (bpd) Chim Sao oilfield offshore Vietnam in July 2011.

The company will also begin production at the more than 100 million cubic metre (cu m) per day Gajah Baru gas field in Indonesia around July next year, said Robin Allan, Asia director Premier Oil Plc.

"We will be working with PV Oil to market the crude," he said, referring to the marketing arm of Petrovietnam.

The crude from the Chim Sao field has similar qualities to Vietnam's light sweet Bach Ho grade, he told Reuters on the sidelines of an industry conference organised by Global Pacific and Partners in Singapore. (Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Ramthan Hussain)