Update 1: Total shutting down Peciko until weekend
Tuesday, March 3 2009 - 08:58 AM WIB
The national oil output has significantly dropped following the shutdown by Total of its Peciko and Tunu fields, both located in the Mahakam block.
"This is a routine maintenance jointly planned together with BPMIGAS (oil and gas upstream authority). Maintenance works on Tunu were completed last week, while those in Peciko are expected to finalized on March 7 (Saturday)," Judith Navarro-Dipodiputro, the company's Vice President for Corporate Communication, Government Relations and CSR, told Petromindo.Com via phone.
The drop in the national oil output alarmed Director General of Oil and Gas Evita Legowo on Tuesday.
"The production report that I read today put the national oil output at around 920,000 bpd, as against the (state budget) target of 960,000 bpd. This should not have happened. I immediately called BPMIGAS, asking what is happening," Evita told Petromindo.Com.
When asked for comments, BPMIGAS's chairman R. Priyono said fluctuation in the national oil output is normal. "Today, it may drop by 40,000 bpd but it can also rise by 40,000 bpd on the other day."
He noted however the production report read by Evita referred to the production on Monday.
He admitted the national oil production had dropped due to the shutdown of Tunu and Peciko fields, but noted that Tunu had come onstream again while Peciko was expected to resume productions in several days. (Godang)