Inpex is eyeing Mahakam

Inpex, an oil and gas company from Japan, opens opportunity to PT Pertamina (Persero) to become a partner in the Mahakam block this year. Senior Specialist Media Relations Inpex Corporation Moch. N Kurniawan said that the company is still discussing with the Government of Indonesia and PT Pertamina to participate in the new Mahakam Block Production Sharing Contract (PSC) since 2018.

"Our position is still the same that is interested to participate there [Mahakam Block]," he said.

Previously, Inpex also has a contract in the Mahakam Block of 50% along with Total E & P. After the contract switched to Pertamina, Total E & P was reluctant to partner with Pertamina in the Mahakam Block so that the Inpex contract was also constrained. The reason, Total is reluctant to pay to get a share of participation in the Mahakam Block, while Inpex willing to pay to be able to continue to participate in the block.

the Mahakam Block

Upstream Director of Pertamina Syamsu Alam said the search process of the partners is still in internal discussions of the company. According to him, the company will seek partners for the Mahakam Block, and eight termination blocks into six working areas namely Tuban Block, Ogan Komering, Sanga-sanga, Southeast Sumatra, North Sumatra Offshore Attaka-East Kalimantan and Central Block combined with Mahakam Block.

Working Area Oil and Gas Block

"We will try this year to be completed," he said.

Meanwhile, Inpex can own a stake in Mahakam Block up to 39%. However, the company has not yet determined the number of shares to be held in the Mahakam Block. In the transition process to officially manage, Pertamina claims to successfully reduce the cost of drilling wells in the Mahakam Block up to 23% and 25% faster drilling time. It could make Pertamina get reserve mining potential up to 120%, and get additional reservoir thickness of 115%.

This state-owned company is spending more and US $ 1.7 billion on exploration, development and production activities in 2018. Based on SKK Migas data, the Mahakam Working Area (WK) produces 52,000 barrels of oil and condensate per day and 1,360 million cubic feet natural gas per day. Potential WK Mahakam is still considered promising with proven reserves as of January 1, 2016 of 4.9 TCF of gas, 57 million barrels of oil, and 45 million barrels of condensate.

Through the management of WK Mahakam, Pertamina contributes more than 30% of national oil and gas production throughout 2018. In the 2018 Work Program and Budget Agreement, SKK Migas targets the production of PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam to be more than 42,000 barrels of oil per day and 916 million feet cubic of natural gas per day.

IN INDONESIA

Inpex Incar Mahakam

Inpex, perusahaan minyak dan gas berasal dari Jepang, membuka peluang kepada PT Pertamina (Persero) untuk menjadi mitra di Blok Mahakam pada tahun ini. Senior Specialist Media Relations Inpex Corporation Moch. N Kurniawan mengatakan pihaknya masih terus berdiskusi dengan Pemerintah Indonesia dan PT Pertamina untuk berpartisipasi dalam Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Blok Mahakam yang baru sejak 2018.

“Posisi kami masih tetap sama yakni berminat berpartisipasi  di sana [Blok Mahakam],” ujarnya.

Sebelumnya, Inpex juga memiliki kontrak di Blok Mahakam sebesar 50% bersama dengan Total E&P. Setelah kontrak beralih ke Pertamina, Total E&P enggan bemitra dengan Pertamina di Blok Mahakam sehingga kontrak Inpex juga terkendala. Alasannya, Total enggan membayar untuk mendapatkan saham partisipasi di Blok Mahakam, sedangkan Inpex mau membayar untuk bisa tetap berpartisipasi di blok itu.

Direktur Hulu Pertamina Syamsu Alam mengatakan proses pencarian mitra masih dalam diskusi internal perseroan. Menurutnya, perseroan akan mencari mitra untuk Blok Mahakam, dan delapan blok terminasi yang menjadi enam wilayah kerja yakni Blok Tuban, Ogan Komering, Sanga-sanga, Southeast Sumatra, North Sumatra Offshore Attaka-East Kalimantan, dan Blok Tengah yang digabung dengan Blok Mahakam.   

"Kami usahakan tahun ini sudah ada yang bisa diselesaikan,” ujarnya.

Adapun, Inpex bisa memiliki kepemilikan saham di Blok Mahakam hingga 39%. Namun, perusahaan itu belum menentukan jumlah saham yang akan dimiliki di Blok Mahakam. Dalam proses peralihan hingga resmi mengelola, Pertamina mengklaim berhasil menekan biaya pengeboran sumur di Blok Mahakam hingga 23% dan waktu pengeboran lebih cepat 25%. Hal itu bisa membuat Pertamina mendapatkan potensi penambangan cadangan sampai 120% , serta memperoleh penambahan ketebalan reservoir sebesar 115%.

Perusahaan milik negara ini mengeluarkan anggaran lebih dan US$ 1,7 miliar untuk kegiatan eksplorasi, pengembangan, dan produksi pada 2018. Berdasarkan data SKK Migas, Wilayah Kerja (WK) Mahakam memproduksi minyak dan kondensat sebanyak 52.000 barel per hari dan 1.360 juta kaki kubik gas bumi per hari. Potensi WK Mahakam dinilai masih menjanjikan dengan cadangan terbukti per 1 Januari 2016 sebesar 4,9 TCF gas, 57 juta barel minyak, dan 45 juta barel kondensat.

Melalui pengelolaan WK Mahakam, Pertamina menjadi penyumbang lebih dari 30% produksi minyak dan gas nasional sepanjang 2018. Pada Persetujuan Program Kerja dan Anggaran 2018, SKK Migas menargetkan produksi PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam bisa lebih dari 42. 000 barel minyak per hari dan 916 juta kaki kubik gas bumi per hari. 

Bisnis Indonesia, Page-1, Wednesday, June 6, 2018