Mapun Municipal Mayor Nickerson Tan said that there is an on-going seismic survey being undertaken by an Australian private firm in Mapun Sea in search of crude oil deposits.
Seismic survey is a method of investigating subterranean structure, particularly as related to exploration for petroleum, natural gas and mineral deposits.
Tan said the Australian firm has chosen Mapun Sea as their site of oil exploration project.
Mapun, which is comprised of 15 barangays, is a remote municipality in the province of Tawi-Tawi and is close to Malaysia.
Tan said he was informed by an official of the Australian firm that oil drilling will start next year or in 2009.
