TOKYO - Japan's top oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp said on Thursday it has started production from the North Belut gas field in Indonesia's South Natuna Sea Block B.

Inpex has a 35 percent interest in the project, in which production is planned to hit in excess of 200 million standard cubic feet per day of gas and over 20,000 barrels per day of condensate and liquefied petroleum gas in 2010.

ConocoPhillips is the operator of the field and has a 40 percent stake in the project, while Chevron Corp owns the remaining 25 percent. (Reporting by James Topham)

Japan Conocophillips Energy