Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) Targets Giant Oil and Gas Block in Eastern Indonesia

February 06, 2024, 08.38 PM  | Reporter: Arfyana Citra Rahayu
Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) Targets Giant Oil and Gas Block in Eastern Indonesia

ILUSTRASI. Salt Center managers check salt levels at the Banyusangka Salt Center, Bangkalan, Madura, East Java, Tuesday (7/11/2023). The Salt Center development program by PT Pertamina Hulu Energi West Madura Offshore (PHE WMO) since 2022 with salt crystallization technology fueled by local briquettes (Siram Berbakat) has succeeded in increasing production in 2022 to 52 tonnes of salt compared to 36 tonnes in the previous year. type of folk salt with indicators measuring NaCI levels from previously 56.12 percent to 94.07 percent which meets salt consumption standards. BETWEEN PHOTOS//Budi Candra Setya/aww/YU


OIL AND GAS-LOMBOK. PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) has secured one oil and gas working area (WK) with jumbo reserves in Eastern Indonesia. Unfortunately, Pertamina is still keeping the name and details of the oil and gas block a secret. 

“There is one (oil and gas block) that we will announce its name in the near future, in March. We are targeting this because it has the potential to be a big fish, giant discovery in Eastern Indonesia,” said the Director of Exploration of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), Muharram Jaya Panguriseng at the Media Gathering 2024 in Mandalika, Tuesday (6/2). 

He acknowledged that several investors who knew that Pertamina would enter this oil and gas block also expressed interest in joining. 

In essence, the search for giant oil and gas fields in Eastern Indonesia is one of Pertamina's exploration strategies.  Muharram explained that there are many basins in Indonesia, of which only 20% have been explored and 10% of them have been drilled. 

“So our potential is still very large,” said Muharram. 

So far, PHE has conducted evaluations in several areas of Eastern Indonesia, namely around Seram Island, Bone Bay, and Aru. “There we conducted quite intensive exploration,” he explained. 

All of these potentials will be evaluated, then a ranking will be made of which is the most potential, and then it will be proposed to the government. 

Previously, the Head of SKK Migas, Dwi Soetjipto stated, based on joint mapping and analyzed data, Indonesia has large oil reserves in Eastern Indonesia, especially on Warim Island and Seram Island. 

“In the long term, of course there is exploration, there were 5 potentials and the two largest ones in Seram and Warim will be taken seriously,” he explained when met at the DPR RI Building, Wednesday (1/2/2023). 

Dwi revealed that if this area can be developed, it can contribute to the increase in national oil and gas production. The potential oil on Seram Island alone, for example, is projected to reach twice the current oil reserves, which are only 2.3 billion barrels per day. 

Editor: Syamsul Azhar

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