SKK Migas Says There Are 3 Drilling Areas For Exploration Wells In The Southwest Papua Region

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - The Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) revealed that three of the 57 exploration well drilling targets in 2023 are in the Southwest Papua Province.

"Overall, the drilling target has increased from the realization in 2022, which is only 42 wells," said Head of the SKK Migas Program and Communication Division Hudi D Suryodipuro, quoted from Antara, Monday, July 24.

Currently, he said, SKK Migas together with the Cooperation Contract Contract Contract Contractor (KKKS) PT Petrogas (Basin) Ltd are currently taxing Riam-1 exploration wells in West Walio, Sorong Regency.

Riam-1 exploration activities have started since July 21, 2023, at 11.00 WIT and are expected to last for the next two months.

The exploration well, said Hudi, is drilled in a directional manner using PBL Rig 3 (750 HP) with a final depth of 4,250 ftMD wells.

Riam-1 Exploration intends to test and evaluate the potential of the oil and gas content contained in the Kais Formation.

"Remaining reserve from the field which is currently produced in Sorong, comes from the working area of the Petrogas operator and PT Pertamina EP," explained Hudi.

He said exploration of oil and gas well drilling requires support from local governments and communities in Southwest Papua.

Therefore, SKK Migas continues to increase the synergy of collaboration with the local government.

According to Hudi, upstream oil and gas activities have a positive impact on regional income through profit-sharing funds (DBH) at the provincial and district/city levels.

"The upstream oil and gas activity has also created a multiplier effect felt by local communities in Southwest Papua," he said.

Previously, Deputy for Exploration of Work Area Development and Management of SKK Migas Benny Lubiantara explained, SKK Migas with KKKS continues to optimize exploration well drilling programs in eastern Indonesia, because they have the largest oil and gas potential at this time.

Drilling the exploration of Riam-1 wells in the Bird's Head Block aims to find a source of oil and gas reserves to support the fulfillment of national needs.

In the future, according to him, the Sorong area will be more strategic because it has produced large amounts of oil and gas and is one of the backbone areas produced by national oil and gas.

This potential is in line with the government's efforts to push downstream oil and gas industry downstream and the growth of domestic gas users, including the plan to build a fertilizer factory in Sorong.

"Seeing the existing potential, the Oil and Gas SKK continues to intensify exploration well drilling in Sorong," said Benny.

Until the first half of SKK Migas and KKKS had carried out 11 wells, and of that number six wells had produced discoveries with a total power of + 216 MMBOE.

The wells that produced the discovery were NSO XLLL-1 wells, Rimbo-1 Re-Entry wells, SEM-1X wells, D-1X Helios wells, 1X Adiwarna wells and Lofin-2 Re-Entry wells.

"The exploration of wells supports the achievement of the long-term 2030 target, namely oil production of 1 million barrels of oil per day (BOPD), and gas 12 billion cubic feet per day (BSCFD)," said Benny.