據道瓊斯12月28日消息，埃克森美孚周三宣布在巴布亞新幾內亞的北高地（North Highlands）有新的天然氣發現，該發現距離Hides天然氣田西北13英里（21公里）。埃克森美孚持有該發現42.5%權益，石油搜尋公司持有37.5%權益，桑托斯旗下子公司Barracuda持有剩余20%股權（還有待管理層的批準），石油搜尋公司是該發現的作業者。

　　Muruk-1井遇到了與Hides天然氣田相同的高質量砂巖儲藏，與鉆井前的預期一致。該井已經安全地鉆取到10630英尺（3130米）。當前正在評估以確定該發現的規模。

　　石油搜尋公司是在2016年11月2日開始鉆取Muruk-1井。

　　龐曉華摘譯自道瓊斯

　　原文如下：

　　ExxonMobil Announces New Natural Gas Discovery Onshore Papua New Guinea

　　IRVING, Texas--December 28, 2016

　　Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced a new natural gas discovery in the Papua New Guinea North Highlands, 13 miles (21 kilometers) northwest of the Hides Gas Field. Interest owners are ExxonMobil (42.5 percent), Oil Search Limited (37.5 percent) and Barracuda Limited, a subsidiary of Santos Limited (20 percent, subject to regulatory approval), with Oil Search as operator.

　　The Muruk-1 well encountered similar high-quality sandstone reservoirs as the Hides field and was in line with pre-drill expectations. It was safely drilled to 10,630 feet (3,130 meters). Evaluation is underway to determine the size of the discovery.

　　Oil Search began drilling the Muruk-1 well on Nov. 2, 2016.