CNOOC told to resume oil production at SES block

Upstream oil and gas regulator (BPMIGAS) has instructed CNOOC SES Ltd to soon resume production at four oil and gas fields offshore Java which has been halted following a fire incident on its floating storage offshore (FSO) Lentera Bangsa, which was leased from PT Trada Maritime Tbk.

BPMIGAS has instructed CNOOC to immediately find replacement for the FSO so that production from the fields can return to normal. The fields normally produce 15,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD)

In line with standard operating procedure (SOP), CNOOC has halted oil production at four fields of the South East Sumatera (SES) Block, namely Widuri, Intan, Aida and Indri, since last Friday due to the fire incident.

?At present, we are trying to lend Motor Tanker (MT) Galunggung owned by Pertamina to replace FSO Lentera Bangsa so that national oil production can return to normal,? BPMIGAS? Head of Operation Rudi Rubiandini said.

He expected FSO Galunggung to arrive at the location next week. He added there is no leakage of oil from the machine room of the FSO. Four people were injured due to the fire, while one worker is still missing.

Based on data provided by Fire Fighting expert from Singapore , who arrived at the location on Sunday, the temperature of the vessel still stood at 40 degrees Celcius. Thus, it is not yet safe to search for the missing victim or investigate the cause of the fire. (godang/bernard)