BPMIGAS receives 291 planned shudown cases in 2012

By Godang Sitompul

Upstream authority BPMIGAS has received reports about 291 cases of temporary planned shutdown submitted by production sharing contractors that could result in a loss of 2.5 million barrels of oil production opportunity and of 56 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) of gas.

Director for Operation at BPMIGAS Rudi Rubiandini told Petromindo.com that the planned shutdowns were decided to allow oil and gas operators to conduct maintenance works.

Rudi did not explain whether the temporary planned shutdown cases had been considered when setting oil and gas production target for 2012. Last year, the government failed to reach oil production target partly due to planned and unplanned shutdown and unexpected disruption of production in a number of wells and fields.

Early this month, BPMIGAS has warned the government about potential threats that may disrupt oil and gas production in 2012 and therefore lead to below-than-target production.

The government?s 2012 State Budget has set oil production target to 950,000 barrels of oil per day. BPMIGAS sets lower target of 930,000 bopd.

Editing by Roffie Kurniawan