The government is targeting the potential reserves that are still available in the Cepu Block to prevent a natural decline in production in the working area which is the buffer for national oil production. The Cepu working area, which is operated by ExxonMobil Cepu Limited (EMCL), has recorded crude oil production of 475 million barrels.
Meanwhile, this production is higher than the estimated total volume of oil reserves produced based on the initial plan of development/POD of 450 million barrels.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif said the contribution from the Cepu Block was very large to the achievement of ready-to-sale production or national lifting reaching 30-40 percent. Unfortunately, the water content in the Cepu Block drilling has now increased which indicates a decline in production from the Cepu Block.
"There is another potential of 40 million barrels that must be exploited from around Cepu," he said.
Arifin hopes that ExxonMobil can optimize oil and gas resources in the Cepu Block and immediately develop existing reserves to be processed into production. According to him, with the total production of the Cepu Block which has reached 475 million barrels, there are still almost half of them, namely 940 million barrels.
"ExxonMobil will take steps, among others optimizing the work in the well to be maintained, then subsurface works will be carried out, more intense programs and also prevent downtime," he said.
Head of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) Dwi Soetjipto said the decline in production in the Cepu Block was indeed due to an increase in the portion of water that came out of oil drilling and an increase in the gas ratio.
On the other hand, the Banyu Urip Field is currently at a stable production level at around 220,000 barrels per day. However, with production levels higher than the initial estimate, the Banyu Urip Field also experienced a scientific decline in production.
"Currently SKK Migas continues to oversee ExxonMobil Cepu Limited (EMCL) together with partners to discuss various initiatives to manage the decline in production that has begun to occur," he said.
Meanwhile, PT Pertamina (Persero) said it would take part in increasing production in the Cepu Block. Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati said the increase in production in the Cepu Block would be pursued through the completion of the Jambaran-Tiung Biru (JTB) project which is being worked on by PT Pertamina EP Cepu (PEPC).
"Pertamina is committed to increasing additional production in the block because we realize that in the energy transition plan, the use of gas will be a transition from fuel to NRE," said Nicke Widyawati.
The project with a total investment value of US$ 1.53 billion is projected to have a peak gas production of 192 MMscfd. The JTB project is said to provide a multiplier effect in providing gas supply for various industrial sectors in Central and East Java.
Based on SKK Migas data, in the first quarter of 2021 the progress of project work has reached 88.77%. The realization was still below the target of 98.22%.
Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited (EMCL) crude oil production in the first three months of this year was recorded at 213,251 barrels per day or only 97.4% of the APBN target of 219,000 bopd.
GOVERNMENT APPRECIATION
Meanwhile, the government will provide awards for upstream oil and gas contractors who have good performance. Arifin said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance regarding the plan to provide incentives for existing upstream oil and gas contracts.
According to Arifin, the provision of incentives is to increase the interest of the cooperation contract contractors to increase their production, especially for old wells.
"Those who work hard and produce good results will be rewarded in the form of incentives," he said.
Arifin continued that wells that had been exploited for a long time had reduced reserves. It takes a lot of effort to at least maintain production levels and maintain the economy of the field.
"If production can increase, the government's share will also increase," he said.
In addition to incentives for existing contractors, the government will also provide incentives to attract new investors. The challenge is that international oil and gas companies have a tendency to shift their investment costs to NRE.
The government seeks to attract investors by providing attractive fiscal policies supported by the provision of data and simplification of licensing.
“Indonesia is one of the most attractive locations in the world for investment in the upstream oil and gas sector. For that, we must be able to open an attractive 'showroom' to be visited," said Arifin.
Dwi Soetjipto assessed that the incentives to be given would depend on the economic value of the business in the field. In addition, incentives also need to refer to the applicable regulations. Dwi Soetjipto said SKK Migas would review a number of aspects to be able to provide these incentives.
"We'll see which one is the best for the country to increase investment," he said.
On another development, the government is encouraging the development of methane hydrate as an alternative energy source with low emissions. Methane hydrate gas is believed to be one of the unconventional energy innovations that can substitute the use of conventional oil and natural gas.
Based on research in 2004, it has been found potential reserves of methane hydrate as much as 850 trillion cubic feet in the offshore area of southern Sumatra to the northwest of Java and in the Makassar Strait, Sulawesi.
This amount is about eight times the current natural gas reserves so that it can support national energy security for up to 800 years. With the support of further research, the volume of methane hydrate gas reserves in Indonesia is estimated to reach 3,000 TCF.
Bisnis Indonesia, Page-4, Thursday, June 10, 2021
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