Oil and Gas Company from America Return Home

Oil prices and changes from cost recovery to gross split trigger KKKS to run away

One by one the oil and gas companies of the United States began to release their oil and gas assets in Indonesia. Most recently Chevron sold 25% of its shares in South Natuna Block Block B. While ConocoPhilips has also sold 40% of its shares in South Natuna Sea Block B.

In addition to Chevron and ConocoPhilips, ExxonMobil is out of the East Natuna Block consortium. The company also sold 41% of its shares in Tiung Biru Jambaran Field to Pertamina EP Cepu. Erwin Maryoto, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs of ExxonMobil Indonesia once stated that after completing the technical and market review (TMR) study in East Natuna Block and reviewing the findings, ExxonMobil no longer wishes to continue the discussion or activities of the East Natuna Block.

"We remain committed to ExxonMobil's operations in Indonesia and continue to seek and assess new opportunities in Indonesia," he explained.

While ConocoPhillips sells Block B to South Natuna Sea Medco because the company was always doing a review of the portfolio. But that does not mean going away, because ConocoPhilips already 47 years drilled in Indonesia.

Oil and Gas Block in Indonesia

Then there is Hess Corp. really no longer interested in doing business in Indonesia since 2013. The company sells four blocks, namely Ujung Pangkah Block, Semai V Block in West Papua, South Sesuku Block East Kalimantan, and East Sea Block 1. The Block Ujung Pangkah, which is already in production, is now controlled by PT Saka Energi Indonesia, a subsidiary of Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN).

Director General of Oil and Gas ESDM Ministry Ego Syahrial refused to call the foreign companies out or run away from Indonesian oil and gas projects. Ego sure, oil and gas companies will re-invest in Indonesia if the price of oil increases.

"Not out, do not say blurry, as if we are not friendly, not out, it (Exxon) because of the high CO2 gas content.  If the oil price is not economically reasonable, it could be a time back again, "said Ego when met at the House of Representatives / People's Consultative Assembly, Tuesday (10/10).

Director of Upstream Oil and Gas Development, added that there are certain reasons that cause the release of oil and gas companies from Indonesia's oil and gas projects. Like ExxonMobil in East Natuna who opted out of the East Natuna consortium after the results of technology and market research, making East Natuna project uneconomical for ExxonMobil.

While in Chevron's case, Tunggal still has not obtained the company's Official Letters to sell the ownership of shares in the SNSB project. However Tunggal ensures that the government will not interfere with the Chevron stock sale process in South Natuna Sea Block B. He asserted that for the current government the main factor is the production of the block does not go down.

"Therefore Medco is ready to develop, he promised not to go down production, which we hold the operator," said Tunggal.

Even so, Tunggal still hopes Chevron can keep investing in Indonesia through the blocks the government offers in this year's auction.

"We expect them to remain invested, so we offer, let's join the auction, so not let," he explained.

Fahmy Radhi, an Energy Observer from UGM, said that the cause of the US oil and gas company is blurred because of the change of profit sharing contract to gross split. Also permitting the permits in upstream oil and gas also causes investment is not conducive.

IN INDONESIA

Perusahaan Migas Asal Amerika Pulang Kampung

Harga minyak dan perubahan dari cost recovery ke gross split memicu KKKS minggat

Satu per satu perusahaan minyak dan gas Amerika Serikat mulai melepas aset migas mereka di Indonesia. Yang terbaru adalah Chevron menjual 25% sahamnya di Blok South Natuna Sea Block B. Sementara ConocoPhilips juga sudah menjual 40% sahamnya di South Natuna Sea Block B.

Selain Chevron dan ConocoPhilips, ExxonMobil keluar dari konsorsium Blok East Natuna. Perusahaan itu juga menjual 41% sahamnya di Lapangan Jambaran Tiung Biru kepada Pertamina EP Cepu. Erwin Maryoto, Vice President Public and Goverment Affailrs ExxonMobil Indonesia pernah menyatakan, setelah menyelesaikan kajian teknis dan pemasaran atau technology and market review (TMR) di Blok East Natuna dan mengkaji temuan, ExxonMobil tidak lagi berkeinginan meneruskan pembahasan atau kegiatan Blok East Natuna. 

"Kami tetap berkomitmen pada operasi ExxonMobil di Indonesia dan terus mencari dan mengkaji peluang baru di Indonesia," terangnya.

Sementara ConocoPhillips menjual Blok B Laut Natuna Selatan ke Medco karena memang perusahaan itu senantiasa melakukan tinjauan atas portfolionya. Namun bukan berarti akan pergi, karena ConocoPhilips sudah 47 tahun mengebor di Indonesia.

Lalu ada Hess Corp memang benar-benar tidak lagi berminat berbisnis di Indonesia sejak tahun 2013. Perusahaan itu menjual keempat bloknya, yakni Blok Ujung Pangkah, Blok Semai V di Papua Barat, Blok South Sesuku Kalimantan Timur, dan Blok Timor Sea 1. Adapun Blok Ujung Pangkah yang memang sudah produksi, kini dikuasai PT Saka Energi Indonesia, anak usaha Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN).

Direktur Jenderal Minyak dan Gas Bumi Kementerian ESDM Ego Syahrial menolak menyebut perusahaan asing tersebut keluar atau kabur dari proyek-proyek migas Indonesia. Ego yakin, perusahaan-perusahaan migas akan kembali berinvestasi di Indonesia jika harga minyak meningkat. 

"Tidak keluar, jangan dibilang kabur, seolah-oleh kami tidak friendly. Tidak keluar, itu (Exxon) karena kandungan gas CO2 tinggi. Kalau harga minyak tidak ekonomis itu wajar, bisa saja suatu waktu kembali lagi," jelas Ego ketika ditemui di Gedung DPR dan MPR RI, Selasa (10/10).

Direktur Pembinaan Hulu Migas Tunggal, menambahkan, ada alasan-alasan tertentu yang menjadi penyebab keluarnya perusahaan migas dari proyek-proyek migas Indonesia. Seperti ExxonMobil di East Natuna yang memilih keluar dari konsorsium East Natuna setelah hasil technology and market research, membuat proyek East Natuna tidak ekonomis bagi ExxonMobil.

Sementara di kasus Chevron, Tunggal masih belum mendapatkan Surat resmi perusahaan tersebut untuk menjual kepemilikan saham dalam proyek SNSB. Namun Tunggal memastikan pemerintah tidak akan ikut campur dari proses jual beli saham Chevron di South Natuna Sea Block B. Dia menegaskan, bagi pemerintah saat ini yang panting adalah produksi blok tersebut tidak turun. 

"Maka dari itu Medco siap mengembangkan, dia berjanji tidak akan turun produksi, yang kami pegang operator," ujar Tunggal.

Biarpun begitu, Tunggal masih berharap Chevron bisa tetap berinvestasi di Indonesia melalui blok-blok yang ditawarkan pemerintah dalam lelang tahun ini. 

"Kami harapkan mereka tetap investasi. Makanya kami tawarkan, ayo ikut lelang, jadi bukan membiarkan," terangnya.

Fahmy Radhi Pengamat Energi dari UGM, menilai, penyebab perusahaan migas Amerika kabur karena perubahan kontrak bagi hasil ke gross split. Juga berbelitnya perizinan di hulu migas juga menyebabkan investasi tidak kondusif.

Kontan, Page-14, Wednesday, October 11, 2017