Sukowati 11 oil well begins production

Joint Operation Body (JOB) Pertamina-Petrochina East Java has successfully pumped out oil during a production trial at the Sukowati 11 oil well in the Ngampel village of the Kapas district, Bojonegoro regency, East Java.

The company successfully pumped out crude oil during a three-hour production trial on Monday, said Sukimin, the head of the Ngampel village who together with other community leaders were invited to witness the production trial.

He said that the company gave the villagers cash of about Rp 40 million (US$=Rp 10,635)as compensation for the toxic pollution caused by the burning of the crude oil during the production trial. The villagers received between Rp 100,000 and Rp 120,000 each.

The Sukowati 11 well is one of the nine oil wells operated by Pertamina-Petrochina in the Kapas district. With the start of the production of the Sukowati 11 well, the total production in the area is expected to reach 29,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The Joint Operation Body plans to carry out a production trial in Sukowati 12 and 12A wells later this month.

Pertamina-Petrochina also operates a number of oil wells in Mudi field in the nearby Tuban regency. Production at the field has reached about 2,700 bpd. The total production at the Sukowati and Mudi fields is expected to reach 37,000 bpd by the end of 2010. (*)