CNOOC SES production unlikely to return to normal this year

The upstream oil and gas regulator BPMIGAS is pessimistic that the oil production of the North Business Unit of China National Offshore Oil Company South East Sumatera (CNOOC SES) in the Java Sea will return to normal this year following the fire on its Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) Lentara Bangsa last September.

The fire on the FSO has resulted in a production loss of up to 12,000 barrels per day.

?It will take time before production returns to normal. The vessel (FSO Lentera Bangsa) has been transferred to dry dock. We are now trying to replace the damaged FSO,? the spokeperson of BPMIGAS, Gde Pradnyana told Petromindo.com.

BPMIGAS has earlier deployed MT Brahmani vessel, owned by Pertamina, to temporarily replace FSO Lentera Bangsa. The presence of MT Brahmani vessel allows the CNOOC SES? oil and gas field to operate partially.

Gde however could not estimate when the CNOOC SES will return to normal. (godang)