PHE plans to drill one shale well in North Sumatra

By Bernard Loebs

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) plans to drill one shale well, called Melucut, in Sumbagut non-conventional PSC in North Sumatra in the fourth quarter of the year.

The firm will use the type of rig used in conventional blocks. The well is however drilled deeper than the conventional one, a source told Petromindo.com.

?We hope our friends in Medco are willing to share their experiences with Pertamina because Medco once drilled a very deep well in South Central Sumatra block which has reserve similar to the one in Sumbagut in terms of characteristics. (Both of them are) very tight,? the source said.

In view of the formation, the porosity and permeability was low ? below 0.5. Since the drilling will be deeper than usual, PHE should use a big rig, either with 1500 hp or 2000 hp.

The block is 100 percent owned by PHE. It is the first shale block ever awarded by the government. It was awarded to Pertamina in May 2015.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon