PHE WMO expects to raise lifting after FSO operation

PT Pertamina Hulu Energy West Madura Offshore (PHE WMO) has started the operation of the floating storage and offloading (FSO) Pertamina Abherka, the first one owned and operated by the company to support the oil and gas production activities in the WMO Block.

The operation was launched in a ceremony held on Wednesday onboard of the FSO and it was attended by upstream authority BPMIGAS Chairman R. Priyono and Pertamina President Director Karen Agustiawan.

The FSO Pertamina Abherka will replace the FSO Madura Jaya, which is previously operated in Poleng field of West Madura Offshore Block.

?This is the realization of cooperation between Pertamina and its subsidiaries. We hope that such cooperation can be realized also in other projects with a view to improving efficiency and increasing the state income through the company,? said Karen Agustiawan.

The FSO Pertamina Abherka was converted from MT. Geudongdong tanker ship. It is the first conversion project handled by Pertamina Perkapalan. It is planned that Pertamina Perkapalan will operate the US$71 million FSO in the concession area of PHE WMO for 10 years without docking.

The new FSO has a capacity of 600.000 barrels and can accommodate 150 workers. With the FSO, PHE WMO can store up to 30,000 barrels per day, which is expected as a significant contribution to the realization of the national lifting target.

With the operation of the FSO, PHE WMO is expected to be able to minimize downtime in its oil lifting. ?The FSO operation will stand as a positive impact in supplying the local energy need so that it can help accelerate the growth of local economy,? he said.

This year PHE WMO has targeted to produce oil at 20.000 barrels per day and gas at 166.4 mmscfdd, which is channeled to state utility PLN, PGN, BUMD Gresik, and Media Karya Sentosa.

Priyono said that the FSO project has encouraged the realization of the Indonesian incorporated, by utilizing the services of local industries, including shipping and banking. ?Generally, the conversion project has about 70 percent local content,? he said.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.