US energy firm Newfield Exploration Co has been awarded an exploration deal off Malaysia's east coast, its fourth in the country, state oil company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) said.

Under the terms of a production sharing contract, Newfield will operate the block with a 60 per cent interest and Petronas's exploration arm, Petronas Carigali, will hold the rest, it added.
“The total minimum financial commitment for exploration of the block and development of fields within the block is $160.5 million,” Petronas said.
It said the block was the fourth production sharing contract awarded to Newfield. The US firm is also engaged in finding oil off Malaysia's eastern Sarawak state on Borneo island.
Petronas said it received competitive bids for the block, reflecting confidence amongst international oil companies in Malaysia's deepwater.
The block, covering an area of 1,369 square km, is located in water depths of about 70 metres in the Malay Basin, about 300 km off the eastern state of Terengganu.