Medco Discovers New Gas Reserves in South Natuna Sea Again

Medco E&P Natuna has successfully discovered 11.2 million cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of potential commercial reserves through the drilling of the West Belu-1 exploration well in Block B of the South Natuna Sea. “The first test results (DST # 1) recorded the Shrimp Formation reservoir interval could produce hydrocarbons in the form of gas,” Susana Kurniasih, the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Task Force’s (SKK Migas) acting head of the Program and Communication Division, revealed on Tuesday (10/13).

She also said that the success ratio of Medco E&P Natuna’s drilling so far this year reached 100 percent because of the discovery through the 5,000-feet drilling. Previously, the subsidiary of PT Medco E&P Indonesia also succeeded in finding hydrocarbon reserves through the drilling of three exploration wells in the same block. “These results indicate that the potential gas reserves in the Natuna region are still large. Of course, these reserves must be developed according to SKK Migas’ long-term strategy, reaching 12,000 MMscfd of undeveloped gas discoveries in 2030,” he explained.

As a follow-up to the discovery, SKK Migas plans to test four reservoirs. The trial step is necessary to ensure the productivity performance of the gas reservoir target in the West Belut structure to increase the potential oil and gas reserves in the Natuna region. “Not only boost the economic potential in the oil and gas sector in the Natuna region, upstream oil and gas activities in the area will also help provide support to the government in demonstrating the state sovereignty in the Natuna region which is adjacent to the South China Sea, which is currently an area of ​​concern for many countries,” Susana argued.