MANY world gas players competed in the "beauty contest" held by Wood McKenzie in July 2008. This global energy consultant had been requested by the state oil & gas company Pertamina in order to look for a new partner with whom to work the Natuna D-Alpha Block, the giant gas field in Natuna waters, Riau Archipelago. There were eight contestants who passed the second selection stage, including ExxonMobil, Total, Chevron and Shell.

The D-Alpha field i