Pertamina Hulu Energi Aims For Giant Oil And Gas Reserve Potential

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Director of Exploration of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) Muharram Jaya Panguriseng said that his party is targeting potential giant oil and gas reserves through a massive and aggressive oil and gas exploration strategy in 2024 to strengthen national energy security.

At the PHE media gathering in Mandalika, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Tuesday, February 6, Muharram Jaya explained a number of PHE strategies this year which aim to explore every potential discovery of new oil and gas resources, especially large oil and gas reserves (big fish).

This strategy is aimed at optimizing assets and maintaining the current pace of oil and gas production. The findings of oil and gas resources in Indonesia in recent years, according to Muharram, show optimism that Indonesia still has great oil and gas reserves potential.

For this reason, continued Muharram, PHE pursues every potential including drilling in existing exploration areas or near field exploration, but with new exploration and technology concepts.

These efforts have shown significant results, as evidenced by the end of 2023, the potential for oil and gas reserves from the East Pondok Aren (EPN)-001 well in the work area of PEP Tambun Field, Bekasi Regency, West Java and East Akasia Cinta (EAC)-001 in the PEP Jatibarang Field work area, Indramayu, West Java.

"The findings of the new oil and gas reserves in Bekasi and Indramayu regencies, West Java, even went viral some time ago," said Muharram, as reported by Antara.

Muharram said PHE is also actively exploring areas that are more difficult (emerging areas) to seize opportunities to gain big fish resources, although of course it also has high investment risks and costs.

Currently, PHE has also obtained new exploration blocks, namely East Natuna, Bunga and Peri Mahakam as well as in the process of getting other new blocks.

"Last January 2024, Pertamina won the auction of the SK510 exploration block in Malaysia along with Petronas," he said.

Pertamina has also begun to prepare for drilling in deep sea waters (deep water) in Natuna, Masela and Mahakam. According to Muharram, the competence of PHE's human resources (HR) is currently very ready to drill deep seas.

Muharram reminded that the oil and gas issue is not only economic but also related to the defense strategy of a nation. Moreover, the need for oil and gas is still quite significant until 2050.

"The projected national energy demand in 2030 will reach 500 Mega Ton Oil Equivalent (MTOE) and 1,000 MTOE by 2050. Of that amount, the share of oil and gas needs will still reach 23 percent by 2030 and 31 percent by 2050," said Muharram.