Cepu Block production declines due to reservoir constraints, SKK Migas says

By Calvin Purba

Upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas said that oil production at the Cepu Block, operated by ExxonMobil Cepu Limited (EMCL), has declined due to reservoir-related constraints.

Djoko Siswanto, Head of SKK Migas, said current oil production from the Cepu Block has fallen to around 130,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD).

"It is currently around 130,000 BOPD," Djoko said on Wednesday.

As part of efforts to restore production levels at the Cepu Block, EMCL is evaluating various technologies that could be applied to maintain or increase output.

Read also: EMCL reactivates idle wells at Cepu block to boost oil output

"They are currently evaluating what technologies could be used to maintain production levels or even achieve this year's production target," Djoko said.

Earlier this year, EMCL launched a campaign to reactivate idle wells in the Banyu Urip field, the main producing field within the Cepu Block, as part of efforts to boost domestic oil production.

The Banyu Urip field currently has 14 idle wells, three of which have already been brought back into operation. Djoko said the company plans to reactivate the remaining 11 idle wells using gas shut-off and water shut-off technologies to further increase production.

The well intervention program utilizes Gas Shut-Off (GSO) technology involving chemicals supplied by Halliburton and a proprietary formulation developed by ExxonMobil Corporation.

The chemical solution is injected into the well and flows into the reservoir, where it reacts with gas within the rock pores, blocking gas flow and enabling oil to move more freely into the wellbore, thereby improving oil recovery.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak