Most of oil equipments are of between 25 and 30 years old: BPMIGAS

The production of the country?s oil and gas has continued to decline in recent months partly due the fact that most of the equipments used in their exploration and production activities are old.

Oil and gas regulatory body for upstream operation BPMIGAS said in its website that more than 70 percent of the country?s oil and gas exploration and production equipment are of between 25 and 30 years old.

Until April 7, 2011, the agency recorded 201 incidences that caused potential production loss of 33,000 barrels per day (bpd). The total incidences include 153 that caused production loss of 22,000 bpd, Julius Wiratno, the head of the agency?s division for maintenance of production facilities said.

"More than 100 incidences were caused by broken equipment," Julius said.

According to the agency, Indonesia has suffered potential loss in oil production of about 33,000 per day due to the use of the old equipment. This has also become a reason why it would be difficult to meet this year?s production target of 970,000 barrels per day.

BPMIGAS said that it would soon carry out a field study to gather data on the real condition of the exploration and production equipments in the country?s major oil and gas fields. The survey has been carried out in PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia and will be followed by other major production sharing contractors.

Julius said that the data collected from the survey would be quite important in helping the agency to find a way-out to solve the problem. (godang)