Ministry: Gas production up slightly in July

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that the country?s natural gas output in July increased slightly by around 2 percent to 7,781 mmscfd from the output in June.

The ministry?s Director General of Oil and Gas Ego Syahrial said in a statement over the weekend that based on data which has been synchronized with upstream oil and gas authority SKK Migas, the natural gas production in July increased by 212 mmscfd from 7,569 mmscfd.

He explained that among of the factors contributing to the increase in the gas production was higher average output by PT Pertamina EP to 1,054.82 mmscfd from 1,024.26 mmscfd. ?There was strong production performance from Matindok and Subang blocks,? he said.

Secondly, Eni?s Muara Bakau block also saw higher average production from 192.39 mmscfd to 450.90 mmscfd, or a rise of 258.51 mmscfd. Thirdly, higher production of 153.49 mmscfd by ConocoPhillips Grissik Ltd.

Ego said that there were 10 oil and gas production sharing contractors which accounted for 80.38 percent of the national gas production in July. They are Total E&P Indonesie, BP Bureau, Pertamina EP, ConocoPhillips Grissik, ENI Muara Bakau, JOB Pertamina - Medco Tomori Sulawesi, PetroChina International (Jabung), Premier Oil Natuna Sea, Medco E&P Natuna, and Kangean Energy Ind.

Elsewhere, Ego said that as per September 14, 2017, net national average annual production of gas stood at 7,606 mscfd, or 96.61 percent of the 2017 target set under the work plan and budget (WP&B). ?We?re optimistic it could exceed the WP&B target,? he said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak