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Paris: A scientist has rejected the statement that Lapindo mud flows in Sidoarjo, East Java, two years ago, were caused by an earthquake in Yogyakarta and not by drilling.

“It was not a natural disaster but triggered by human error when drilling the Banjar-Panji-1 well,” said Professor. Richard Davies from Durham University, England, as reported by AFP, on Monday (9/6).

The mud flows started on May 29, 2006, and up until now cannot yet be handled.

There was an earthquake in Yogyakarta two days before the mud flows began.

Some scientists believe the mud flows were related to this earthquake, as this effected fluid production in the wells around Banjar-Panji 1.

Davies however rejects these opinions.

His latest research about the mud flows is published in the Earth Planetary Science and Letters journal.

The research involves several experts from Indonesia, Australia, and the USA.

In the interest of research, these experts categorized and analyzed the detailed records from the f Banjar Panji-1 well drilling at the time of the disaster.

The research concludes that the mud flows were 99 percent not caused by the earthquake.

Lapindo's public relations head, Yuniwati Teryana, said that anyone could actually state their opinion.

However, Lapindo has also carried out research and concluded that the drilling conformed to national and international regulation.

“We do not mean to be defensive but these are the facts,” said Yuniwati

Executive Director of Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi), Berry Nahdian Furqan, said that research like Davies's has been presented many times.

“But the government or the courts never considers or uses this as reference for policy making,” he said.

However, they will study Davies' research. “Maybe we will find new evidence,” said Berry yesterday.

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