PetroChina Asks Government To Overcome Scarcity Of Oil And Gas Drilling Equipment

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PetroChina International Jabung Ltd asked the government and the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) to overcome the scarcity of oil and gas drilling equipment.

"We need the attention of policy makers to pay attention to this (fragitive drilling equipment)," said PetroChina International Jabung Manager Drilling Operation Kiki Ariefianto when met in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Saturday, March 8.

Kiki explained that the implication of the scarcity of oil and gas well drilling equipment aka rigs was a significant increase in drilling costs.

For example, when the government asks contractors for cooperation contracts (KKKS) to increase production, the more KKKSs need oil and gas well drilling equipment.

The high demand or demand for drilling equipment that is not in line with the availability of drilling equipment then causes drilling costs to increase significantly.

"This makes it difficult for us as operators," he said.

Kiki still sees opportunities or opportunities for upstream oil and gas activities in Indonesia. Until now, he said, PetroChina is still maintaining oil and gas production in the range of 50 55 million barrels of equivalence per day (MBOEPD).

"If we don't do anything, don't drill, maybe at this time we are no longer producing. This is because we continue to produce declines from oil and gas in our field," he said.

On the other hand, PetroChina Jabung Exploration Manager Hendra Niko Saputra, who was also present on the occasion, explained that PetroChina will prepare drilling for one of the seismics at the end of the second half of 2025.

"God willing, we will start drilling preparations for one of the seismics at the end of the second semester of 2025," said Niko.