Tarakan, Kalimantan Utara – PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), through one of its subsidiaries under Zona 10, PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Tarakan, successfully discovered a gas flow in the exploration drilling of the Sembakung Deep (SBKD)-001 Well in the Sembakung Area, approximately 56 km north of Tarakan, North Kalimantan. This discovery marked an important milestone in unlocking the potential of deep-layer exploration around existing oil and gas fields in Kalimantan.

The drilling of SBKD-001 began in mid-March 2025 using Rig 43-3 owned by PT Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia (PDSI). The drilling successfully reached a depth of more than 2,100 meters in early June 2025, penetrating the Meliat and Naintupo sandstone formations, which were the exploration targets. Previously, PEP Tarakan discovered oil in the Tabul Formation, which had long been developed. This hydrocarbon discovery demonstrated the strength of synergy among companies within Pertamina’s Upstream Subholding.

In early August 2025, the Company conducted a drill stem test, where one of the Meliat Fm sandstone layers was able to produce good quality gas and condensate, reaching an average of 9 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD).

The Director of Exploration of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), Muharram Jaya Panguriseng, stated that the SBKD-001 Well is one of the oil and gas fields located in the border area between Indonesia and Malaysia. This gas flow discovery further strengthened national sovereignty and supported prosperity for the Indonesian people. “Every worker in the SBKD-001 Well is an energy warrior, serving as the spearhead of national energy provision with significant contributions to the country,” said Muharram during his field visit, or Management Walk Through (MWT), to SBKD-001 on August 6, 2025. He also reminded the team of the importance of occupational health and safety as a top priority, emphasizing that an oil and gas discovery means nothing if accompanied by workplace accidents.

Meanwhile, the VP Exploration of PHI–Regional 3 Kalimantan, Sri Hartanto, conveyed that SBKD-001 is an exploration well that represented an adaptation of exploration activities for new resource findings in a brownfield area (Sembakung Field for its shallow zones). The process, from structure maturation, site preparation, to spud-in, took only one year. “This drilling confirmed hydrocarbon accumulations in the deeper section in the form of gas, and also yielded additional oil reserves in the shallower section,” he added. Sri also appreciated the contributions of the entire team in executing operations safely, achieving more than 243,000 safe man-hours without accidents.

The President Director of PHI, Sunaryanto, expressed appreciation for the discovery in the Sembakung Deep Field and hoped that the well could soon be monetized as existing facilities were already available. “At PHI, we believe that upstream oil and gas investment, both exploration and exploitation, is essential to sustain the Company’s production in supporting national energy security, in line with the government’s Asta Cita agenda on energy self-sufficiency. The SBKD-001 exploration drilling is a manifestation of this commitment,” he stated.

According to Sunaryanto, exploration activities were carried out to discover new resources, add reserves, and increase the Company’s oil and gas production to support the sustainability of national oil and gas production from Kalimantan. “The success of exploration activities in the Sembakung Field will support the sustainability of national oil and gas production from Kalimantan and is expected to generate multiplier effects in the form of energy supply for industrial and community economic activities, job creation, local business growth, government revenue, and Indonesia’s sustainable development,” he concluded.

PT Pertamina EP (PEP) Tarakan Field is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) that manages upstream oil and gas operations and business by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Tarakan Working Area in North Kalimantan. In collaboration with SKK Migas, PEP Tarakan Field, and other PHI subsidiaries and affiliates, we continuously innovate and apply technology to produce safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly energy, realizing #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.