Petronas makes discovery in Ketapang PSC

Malaysian energy firm PETRONAS announced on Friday new hydrocarbon discoveries from its exploration activities in East Java.

PETRONAS Carigali Ketapang Ltd, the operator for the Ketapang PSC offshore East Java, is drilling the Bukit Tua South-2 appraisal well to assess the Bukit Tua South-1 oil discovery made in 2012.

The Bukit Tua-2 appraisal well reached its total depth of 2,176 meters early last month and penetrated the CD and Kujung carbonate reservoirs.

A drill-stem test (DST) carried out for the CD carbonate interval recorded a flow rate of 1,656 barrels of oil per day at two-inch choke size. Another DST will also be carried out for the shallower Kujung reservoir.

?Evaluation to determine the extent of the Bukit Tua South field is on-going,? the firm said in a statement.

The success of the Bukit Tua South-2 appraisal well will contribute additional oil resources to the Ketapang PSC for further development opportunities. The production from the Bukit Tua oil field is expected to commence by end 2014.

The firm said upstream authority SKK Migashas been supportive of the joint venture?s exploration efforts in the block. PETRONAS holds 80 percent equity in the Ketapang PSC while its JV partner PT Saka Ketapang Perdana, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PT Saka Energi Indonesia, holds the remaining 20 percent interest. Overall, PETRONAS is present in seven PSCs in Indonesia and is the operator for three of the ventures.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon