ONWJ production hits record high

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore North West Java (PHE ONWJ) said it booked a oil production of 43,900 barrels per day (bpd) in the first quarter of the year, the highest since the firm become the operator of the block in July 2009.

The result was encouraging in light of the fact oil and gas production at the block was not normal in the period of January-February due to bad weather, the firm said in a statement on Thursday.

The firm expects to meet the production target of 39,400 bopd this year in line with its Work Program & Budget (WP&B).

The increased production was mainly contributed by the development of wells at the new field, UL. The firm managed to operate the wells in the UL field in February 2014.

?The additional production from the UL field is expected to help the firm achieve the 2014 production of 39,400 bopd and 207.7 mmscfd,? PHE ONWJ Vice President and General Manager Jonly Sinulingga.

The UL project is one of the projects developed by PHE ONWJ to raise the oil and gas output. The project involves among others the development of the ULA tripod platform (a three-leg offshore rig) and the installation of 12-inch underwater pipe over a length of 6.1 km.

The project has been completed without accident, the firm said.

Aside from contribution from UL field, the production also increased thanks to innovations and product optimizing program carried by PHE ONWJ, the firm said.

?PHE ONWJ continues various activities to support (the achievement of) oil and gas national production. We?ll continue exploration activities and new field development in the coming years in order to maintain the increasing trend in the oil and gas production,? Jonly said.

Last year, the firm booked a production of 38,300 bopd, higher than target.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon