Ministry plans study to deploy mobile platform in offshore oil fields

By Godang Sitompul

Petromindo

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources? Research and Development Agency plans to carry out a study for utilization of mobile platforms at offshore marginal oil fields in the country in a bid to help generate extra oil and gas output at cheaper cost.

Agency Head FX Sutijastoto told Petromindo.com that the study will include selecting the right platform technology to be deployed in shallow offshore fields such as in Java Sea, Natuna, and Tarakan.

?We plan to carry out the study soon,? he said, but did not provide further details.

Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arcandra Tahar during his early days in office had promoted the use of mobile platform technology in Indonesia. Arcandra, who has over 14 years of experience in the field of hydrodynamics and offshore engineering, is said to hold patent for such a technology. He was formerly president director of Petroneering, a technology development and engineering firm in Houston, US, before assuming the cabinet post.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak