Pertamina marks 50 years of Handil Field operations
Wednesday, September 17 2025 - 11:46 AM WIB
By Romel S. Gurky
PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), a subsidiary of Pertamina and operator of the Mahakam Block, is celebrating a major milestone: 50 years of continuous operations at the Handil Central Processing Area (HCA) in Muara Jawa, East Kalimantan.
First drilled on February 15, 1974, at Well H-1, the Handil Field officially began production in 1975 and has since become a strategic pillar of Indonesia’s oil and gas industry. Now five decades in operation, the field remains a critical contributor to national energy supply.
“This 50-year milestone does not mark the end of the field’s life, but rather a golden era of operational resilience, innovation, and strategic partnerships,” said Setyo Sapto Edi, General Manager of PHM in a statement. “It reflects our commitment to sustainable practices and the adoption of advanced technologies that continue to drive production and value creation.”
PHM assumed management of the Mahakam Working Area (WK) in 2018 from Total E&P Indonesie, inheriting a complex but highly valuable legacy field. Despite facing fluctuating global oil prices, natural decline in reserves, and increasing environmental demands, the HCA Field has remained productive through technological innovation, digital transformation, and adaptive field management.
Read also: PHM opens PQ tender for AHTS Vessel to support jack up rig operations
Setyo emphasized that sustained operations in such a mature field are only possible with strong synergy between the company, government, communities, and all stakeholders.
Setyo credited the long-term viability of the HCA Field to PHM’s focus on technology and innovation, which he said have been crucial in maintaining recovery rates and extending the life of the asset. He cited efforts such as the digitalization of operations and efficient field development strategies as essential tools in overcoming operational and economic challenges.
He also underscored that safety remains a core value at PHM. “Excellent safety performance underpins our operational success. Every worker must prioritize safety as an uncompromising standard,” he said.
The company also highlighted its strong relationship with local communities as a key factor in sustaining its operations. Setyo noted that support from local governments and residents has enabled PHM to operate in a socially stable and cooperative environment, generating both economic and social benefits for the surrounding region.
As PHM celebrates the half-century mark for Handil Field, the company sees the milestone not as an endpoint, but as a foundation for future contributions to Indonesia’s energy security and sustainability goals.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak