Indonesia Studying Shale Oil Potentials

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia is studying shale oil or non-conventional fuel to replace oil whose production is depleting. The director general of oil and gas of the ministry of energy, Edy Hermantoro, said here on Wednesday Indonesia would invite investors from home and abroad especially the US to study shale oil potentials in the country. "The US has successfully produced shale oil up to 700,000 barrels a day in North Dakota using 'fracturing' technology," he said. Besides shale oil the US has also successfully produced non-conventional gas or "shale gas" in a large amount, he added. Edy hoped Indonesia would also be able to produce shale oil like other non-conventional gas such as coal bed methane (CBM). He said the shale oil potentials in the country are estimated to be quite big, located among others in central part of Sumatra. "Technically if gas has already surpassed "window" (its period) it will turn into liquid," he explained. Edy said the government has already produced Energy and Mineral Resource Ministerial Decree Number 5 of 2012 to manage exploitation. (*)