February oil production below govt?s target: BPMIGAS

The country?s average oil production reached 946,048 barrels per day (bpd) as of Feb. 4, 2010 or 1.96 percent below the target of 965,000 bpd stated in the 2010 state budget, according to upstream oil and gas regulatory body BPMIGAS.

The agency said that the gas production reached 8,666 million standard cubic per day (MMCFD) as of Feb. 4.

BPMIGAS' Chairman R. Priyono said in Jakarta on Friday that the oil production could not be achieved because of technical problems in several oil fields. ?The technical factor such as the shutdown of the Kangean field which produces 2,500 bpd,? he added.

The production of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) also dropped by 8,000 bpd because the company?s maintenance works were completed behind schedules. The normal production of CNOOC is 43,000 bpd

The production at the Cepu oil block which is operated by Exxon Mobil was also reduced to 6,800 bpd because its buyer Triwahana Universal and Pertamina were unable to absorb all the production.

"Conoco Philips? onshore production also dropped by 2,000 bpd due to pigging works at Suban,? he added. (*)