Racing ExxonMobil Cepu, PHR Becomes Indonesia's Most Oil Producer

Refinery illustration (Photo: antara)

JAKARTA - PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan managed to overtake ExxonMobil Cepu as the company with the most oil production in 2023.

Just so you know, Pertamina Hulu Rokan is the operator of the Rokan Block, while ExxonMobil Cepu td (EMCL) is the operator in Banyu Urip Field, Cepu Block.

Deputy for Exploitation of SKK Migas Wahju Widodo when met at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said PHR occupies the first position with production of 167 thousand barrels per day, while Block Cepu has succeeded in producing 140 thousand barrels per day.

"(Juara 1) Rokan lah! Cepu has gone down. Rokan 167 atau berapa ya, sekitarnya. Sementara Cepu kan 140 sekarang," ujar Wahju yang dikutip Jumat 15 Desember.

Wahju also did not deny that the decline in EMCL production was due to gas and water content dominating the drilling carried out. He also said that oil produced from a well is not always high.

"The field will never be continuous. Once the peak is passed, the next phase is the decline phase, it must go down. The question should be after the decline, what efforts should be made so that the decline is not fast, if it goes down it is certain, so it doesn't get stuck," explained Wahju.

To reduce the rate of decline, Wahju continued, in early 2024, EMCL will drill 5 carbonate infill wells and 2 plastic wells next year.

Based on the plan, the inaugural tax will be carried out in February 2024 with an estimated first oil in the range of 10,000 bopd at the end of next year.

"First oil, if I'm not mistaken, drill two months or how much, then start production in August next year," concluded Wahju.