Pertamina-Petrochina Exploring for Oil Gas in East Java

Bojonegoro, East Java (Antara) - Joint operating body (JOB) Pertamina-Petrochina East Java is exploring for oil and gas in the regencies of Bojonegoro, Tuban and Gresik in East Java in a bid to increase production capacity. Head of field administration of the joint venture company between Pertamina Hulu Energi as a 75 percent owner and Petrochina International Java Ltd Hananto Aji said Rp90 billion are needed for the exploration and development of an oil and gas well. Among the oil and gas wells under exploration by the joint venture company is the Sumber well in the regency of Tunan, Hananato said here on Thursday. The new wells are expected to make up for the decline in oil production from the old wells, Hananto said. JOB Pertamina-Petrochina East Java is operating tens of oil and gas wells in Bojonegoro, Tuban and Gresik, he said. He said the Sukowati field in Bojonegoro and the Mudi field in Tuban, currently produce around 32,500 barrels of oil per day. The production fell from a peak of 45,000 barrels per day several years earlier, he said. The shrinking production of oil from the Mudi field is natural, he said, adding now 90 percent of the total production is from the Sukowati field, he said. "The peak years of wells in the Mudi field have been over and now their production per day averages only 1,800 barrels , down from its peak of 20,000 barrels that last for several years in the past," he said. He said he is optimistic the joint venture company could increase its production and regain its peak performance with the new wells. JOB Pertamina-PEJ has a working area of 1,478 square kilometers and has drilled 62 wells in Bojonegoro, Tuban and Gresik. Some of wells, however, have been abandoned as they have been almost depleted. (*)