UPDATE 1-Salamander Energy sees Bualuang output 14,000 bpd
* Says productivity significantly exceeded estimates
* Sees Kambuna field coming on-stream around mid-year (Adds details)
May 11 (Reuters) - Salamander Energy Plc (SMDR.L) said on Monday it expected production at the company-operated Bualuang oil field, offshore Gulf of Thailand, to be about 14,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), as productivity significantly exceeded pre-drill estimates.
The Asia-focused oil and gas explorer, which has businesses in Indonesia and Thailand, also said it expected the company-operated Kambuna field, offshore North Sumatra, Indonesia, to come on-stream around the middle of the year.
The Kambuna field will be a contributor to the forecast jump of over 56 percent in average group production to between 15,000 and 17,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day for 2009, the company said.
At the Bualuang field, production rates have been tested at over 18,000 bopd, but two horizontal wells are to be choked back to produce at a rate of 14,000 bopd, which is the optimal rate for reserves recovery, it said.
Salamander said the successful completion of the Bualuang drilling programme has resulted in a step change in production from the field to more than 14,000 bopd from about 6,000 bopd.
At 0815 GMT, Salamander Energy shares were up 1.6 percent at 170 pence. (Reporting by Balachander Surianarayanan in Bangalore; Editing by Mike Miller)
