PGN's Pagardewa gas station ready for commercial operation

State owned gas distributor PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) said that its Pagardewa compressor station is ready for commercial operation following the final performance verification test (PVT) on its gas turbine compressor (GTC).

PGN?s corporate communication department head Heri Yusup said Tuesday that the final test on the GTC was witnessed by officials from the Directorate General of Oil and Gas last Saturday.

In addition, PGN had also conducted a series of tests earlier, including the so-called pre-operation stage and emergency shut down and blow down (ESDBD) tests. ESDBD test was aimed at ensuring the readiness of all GTC in a state of emergency.

?Tests have been conducted successfully, with all devices functioning and working well,? he said.

In October 2007, PGN reported that first gas from ConocoPhillips-operated Corridor block in South Sumatra had flowed from PGN?s Grissik-Pagardewa section of the South Sumatra West Java (SSWJ) pipeline following the the pipeline?s commissioning on Oct. 16.

According to the company?s release, gas flowed at initial rate of 20-50 MMCFD with pressure of 900 psig. Gas volume is expected to ramp up to 230 MMCFD by year end.

In 2008, the SSWJ pipeline is expected to transport 480 MMCFD of gas

Gas from Corridor block is transported to western part of Java along with gas from Pertamina?s Pagardewa field ? also in South Sumatra- which had flowed since March this year.

PGN has long-term offtake contract with ConocoPhillips and Pertamina. (godang)