Balikpapan – PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS) continues to strengthen its efforts to optimize oil and gas production through the implementation of a hydraulic fracturing program on several wells in the Mutiara and Pamaguan Operational Areas in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan. Implemented throughout 2023–2026, the program supports the company's strategy to maximize reservoir potential, increase production, and maintain the sustainability of the national energy supply.

The company first applied hydraulic fracturing at the Mutiara and Pamaguan Fields in 2023 and continued through 2026. During this period, the company carried out hydraulic fracturing on 16 wells, providing new experience and lessons from each challenge encountered, both technically and operationally. Each hydraulic fracturing operation was designed based on comprehensive technical studies to mitigate potential challenges according to each reservoir's conditions and operational requirements.

Overall, the hydraulic fracturing operations made a significant positive contribution to production performance by increasing well productivity and enabling the wells to produce more optimally. After hydraulic fracturing, incremental oil production increased by up to 100–500 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), while incremental gas production increased by up to 0.1–0.4 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), depending on each reservoir's characteristics. The program is also projected to provide additional reserves, or Estimated Ultimate Recovery (EUR), of up to 1.3 million barrels of oil and 300,000 cubic feet of gas.

General Manager Zona 9 Dadang Soewargono said this method is part of the company's strategic efforts to continuously implement innovation and technology to mitigate production decline, improve recovery rates, and maintain production levels at mature oil and gas fields in Kalimantan. "We believe that the application of innovation and technology plays an important role in sustaining oil and gas production, in line with the company's vision and mission as well as the commitment of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi and PT Pertamina (Persero) to support national energy availability and security," he explained.

According to Dadang, although hydraulic fracturing is a commonly applied method, it is one of the well stimulation techniques used to facilitate the extraction of oil and gas from reservoirs with less favorable rock properties by pumping high-pressure fluid to create fractures in the reservoir. "Through the application of hydraulic fracturing tailored to the characteristics of each reservoir, the company has successfully increased the productivity of several wells while strengthening efforts to sustain production. This achievement demonstrates our commitment to continuously delivering innovation and applying technology to support national energy security," Dadang said.

One of the best results from applying hydraulic fracturing was achieved at the PAM-66 well in the Pamaguan Field, which recorded an initial incremental oil production rate of up to 500 BOPD. In addition, several other wells also demonstrated positive production increases after stimulation was carried out in accordance with the characteristics of their respective reservoirs.

The team implemented this method to the highest safety standards. Going forward, PHSS will continue to identify potential well and reservoir candidates for further optimization programs as part of its strategy to sustainably increase production and create added value for the company and all stakeholders.

PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) under Zona 9, managing upstream oil and gas operations and business activities in the Sanga Sanga Working Area, East Kalimantan, in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. As a Cooperation Contract Contractor for the Government of Indonesia, represented by SKK Migas, PHSS, together with other PHI subsidiaries and affiliates, continues to implement various innovations and technological applications to produce energy safely, efficiently, reliably, compliantly, and in an environmentally responsible manner, thereby supporting the sustainability of national oil and gas production and realizing #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. More information about PHSS and PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.