Pertamina to operate Indonesia-made rig in Algeria
Thursday, September 18 2014 - 01:46 PM WIB
The rig named ?PDSI#43.3/AB1500-E? is now under construction by PT Citra Tubindo Engineering (CTE) at its yard in Batam, Pertamina said in a statement on Thursday.
The naming ceremony of the US$26.6 million rig on Thursday at CTE?s yard swas attended by Pertamina?s Upstream Director Muhamad Husen, PDSI?s President Director Farid Rudiono and CTE?s President Director Kris Taenar Wiluan.
Husen said the rig is the third made by CTE for Pertamina. Two rigs have been completed and are now being used at the Cepu block, which is co-operated by Pertamina and ExxonMobil. The PDSI#43.3/AB1500-E rig will be operated by PDSI at the 405a block in Algeria, where Pertamina is the operator.
?We are very proud to use domestically-made products. Aside from being efficient in price, the products are performing well as evidenced in Cepu block. This is a huge asset. Pertamina will bring the domestically-made rig to be operated in Algeria,? Husen.
The construction of the PDSI#43.3/AB1500-E rig was started in the first quarter of 2014 and is now 90 percent completed and expected to be completed in October. It is designed to fit the environment around oil and gas wells in Algeria. The structure construction, installation, integration and future commissioning of the rig are carried out by Indonesian engineers working at CTE?s yard in Batam.
?With the emergence of companies such as CTE, Pertamina has become more determined to be the locomotive of Indonesia Incorporated in its operating areas overseas. The Government of Algeria is very open to Indonesia, particularly to Pertamina. It does not only the operatorship of the block to Pertamina, but also use its sevice and takes it as a business partner,? Husen said.
PDSI?s President Director Farid Rudiono said once completed in October, the rig will shipped to Algeria in November so that it will be ready for operation in January 2015. He said Algeria poses a challenge for PDSI with its extreme environmental conditions, such as deserts, thick ashes, an up to 50 degrees Celsius temperature.
?Nevertheless, thanks to our long experience, we believe we can perform in Algeria,? Farid said.
Editing by Johannes Simbolon