Gas Burst Appears In Sumen, East Java Provincial Government Asks Residents Not To Panic

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

SURABAYA - The East Java Provincial Government asked residents not to panic because of the emergence of gas bursts in Sumenep Regency due to well drilling in Mandala Village, Rubaru District.

"We are moving quickly and working with a team of experts from universities and the Sumenep Regency Government to carry out security at the location of the eruption," said Head of the East Java Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Office, Nur Kholis in Surabaya, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, September 1.

The Provincial Government and the team immediately conducted ongoing research related to the potential of swamp gas (Shallow Gas) found in Sumenep, as well as Pamekasan Regency.

"The type of methane gas that comes out is a dangerous gas because it is flammable and explosive at high concentrations and pressures. However, because at that location the concentration is small, it will be degraded/neutralized by free air," he said.

"However, the location of the eruption must still be localized from the activities of residents as a mitigation measure," he said.

Nur Kholis conveyed that the problem of the drilling hole which caused gas bursts and caused bubbles and small flames had been studied and the problem was immediately closed with cement.

The closing step, he said, could be done after the flames caused by the drilling had been extinguished.

"From a study conducted by the East Java Provincial Government team with experts, the gas pressure is quite small and is predicted to disappear within the next 3-6 days," he said.

The former Head of the East Java BKD also explained that based on the temporary study of the team that was deployed, the gas burst in the former irrigation well borehole was caused by gas traps in the rock structure penetrated by the drill bit.

Thus, continued Nur Kholis, water flows out accompanied by gas bubbles and a small flame, and this indicates that the concentration of gas pressure is small enough so that the potential for gas reserves is also small.

"The gas burst comes from the results of drilling a well at a depth of 88 meters with clay and sand lithology. So the gas comes out in the type of swamp gas which comes from organic substances left behind by plants and animals that are buried, then fermented by bacterial microorganisms, then produce methane gas and methane gas. a little butane content," he said.

Meanwhile, his party acknowledged that Sumenep does have oil and gas rich potential, so a comprehensive study is needed.

In addition, the rock lithology in Sumenep is clay and sand which is a potential location for swamp gas as a substitute for LPG.

"However, the drilling location itself is not included in the East Java Oil and Gas working area. Which means, the area is currently not an oil and gas prospect," said Nur Kholis.