Pertamina Hulu expects additional output at WMO

President Director of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) Salis Aprilian said PHE expects to ramp up oil production at West Madura Offshore following the production of KE 38 wells in November this year at a rate of 1,000 barrels per day.

With the additional production from KE 38 well, WMO?s total production will rise to 12,500 barrels of oil per day (bopd), he said.

?Hopefully it (production) will start in third quarter or end of November,? Salis told Petromindo.com

He said there are two wells in KE 38 area, namely KE 38-A15 which is being drilled at a depth of 3,500 meters and KE38-A 17 which is completed and should begin operating at end November.

The government targets oil production of the West Madura block to increase to 29,000 bpd within a year after the extension of the contract. The government had earlier set the average production target at the oil block for this year to about 16,350 bpd.

The government officially named Pertamina in early May this year as the operator of the West Madura Offshore block replacing South Korean company Kodeco in the new contract which became effective May 7 for 20 years.

Pertamina?s ownership in the block was increased to 80 percent from 50 percent previously, with Kodeco holding the remaining 20 percent, unchanged from the previous year. (godang)