Chevron?s Duri, Minas oil fields have yet to resume normal production: BPMIGAS

Upstream oil, gas regulator BPMIGAS said on Thursday that oil production from PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI)?s Minas and Duri oil fields, onshore Central Sumatra, have yet to resume normal production although gas supply by PT Transportasi Gas Indonesia (TGI) has returned to normal since early October.

The gas supply was disrupted following a leakage in TGI?s gas pipeline.

BPMIGAS? spokesman Elan Biantoro told Petromindo.Com that the oil production from the fields are still below normal output of 388,000 bpd. CPI is currently producing 368,000 barrels a day, he said.

On Oct 6, CPI president director Abdul Hamid Batubara said that despite the resumption of the TGI gas supply, Chevron would still need time to return to normal production level as it has to first clean up its steam generator units located in 12 areas following the shut down.

Gas plays a vital role in the Duri field as the field uses waterflooding technique in oil production process.

Meanwhile, oil production from BOB Pertamina-Bumi Siak Pusako and PT Sarana Pembangunan Riau are already in normal production at 17,000-18,000 bpd and 580 bpd, respectively, Elan added. (bernard)