Trans-Asia expands oil survey to onshore Leyte

The Department of Energy gave Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. the green light to include pares of onshore Leyte in exploring for oil under Service Contract 51 covering the East Visayan basin.   Trans-Asia on Friday told the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) "the DOE approved the consortium's request for a six-month extension of the term of the current exploration Sub-Phase 4 until Jan. 31, 2013."   The extension will allow Trans-Asia to complete the 2D seismic survey for northwest Leyte.   Trans-Asia senior vice president Raymundo Reyes Jr. also noted the consortium acquired 102 kilometers of 2D seismic data for the Duhat prospect within SC 51, which was completed early this month.   The data is now being analyzed, Reyes added.   Otto Energy, the main operator of SC 51, disclosed to the Australian Stock Exchange it plans to drill the Duhat-2 well in 2013. — VS, GMA News