Jakarta – PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) closed 2025 with a positive achievement through the successful discovery of new oil and gas resources from the drilling of the Metulang Deep (MDP-1X) exploration well in the offshore South Mahakam area, East Kalimantan. This discovery provides evidence of PHM’s consistent execution of sustainable exploration activities to support national energy security.

The drilling of the MDP-1X well is part of the Near Field Exploration strategy, which is directed as a quick win to accelerate the monetization of discoveries by utilizing nearby production facilities that have entered the mature field phase. This strategy enables accelerated development without the need for extensive new infrastructure construction.

Amid limited working areas, PHM has consistently carried out exploration activities by adopting the latest geological concepts and approaches, including the application of new exploration play concepts in long-producing areas. This success was also supported by close collaboration between PHM, SKK Migas, and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The contingent resources discovered at the MDP-1X well are estimated to have an Original Oil in Place (OOIP) of approximately 106 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE). These resources are expected to be promptly advanced to the development stage to increase national oil and gas production, in line with efforts to achieve energy self-sufficiency and national energy security.

Since taking over the management of the Mahakam Block on January 1, 2018, PHM has drilled six exploration wells with a high success rate. Four of these wells recorded discoveries, including the MDP-1X well, which is considered one of the significant discoveries in the Mahakam Working Area.

As a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), which manages the Mahakam Working Area, PHM conducts exploration and oil and gas development activities in line with its parent company's strategic direction.

PHM General Manager, Setyo Sapto Edi, stated that the Company is committed to consistently implementing upstream oil and gas investment projects and operational activities that are safe, compliant, and value-adding, thereby producing sustainable energy for Indonesia’s future. “We continue to invest in exploitation activities by drilling new wells to add reserves, increase recovery, slow down production decline, and maintain production levels of mature oil and gas fields in Kalimantan,” said Setyo.

PHI President Director, Sunaryanto, conveyed that exploration is a key factor in maintaining energy sustainability. “With the discovery from the MDP-1X drilling, we will immediately proceed with development to drive sustainable production increases, strengthen energy security in Kalimantan, and improve the reserve-to-production (RtoP) ratio of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia,” he said.

Technically, the MDP-1X well was successfully drilled to a measured depth of 4,260 meters and penetrated the Yakin Formation. Although the primary target of the Yakin Formation was only partially penetrated due to high-pressure conditions, PHM successfully identified promising resource potential in shallower formations, namely the Sepinggan Carbonate Sequence (SCS) and the Sepinggan Deltaic Sequence (SDS).

Based on drill stem test results in the Sepinggan Carbonate Sequence (SCS) zone, an advanced evaluation of the discovery from the Manpatu-1X (MPT-1X) well in 2022 confirmed that the carbonate and sandstone reservoirs in the zone have good production capability. With a test interval of 25.5 meters, the well recorded a maximum flow rate of approximately 2,821 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and gas production of 5 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD).

The success of this new reserve discovery confirms that mature oil and gas blocks still hold significant potential when managed through appropriate innovation, technology, and exploration strategies. PHM believes that the sustainability of upstream oil and gas investments, both in exploration and exploitation activities, will deliver multiple benefits for community economic growth and support future national energy development.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in Zona 8. It manages upstream oil and gas operations and businesses in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area in East Kalimantan. As a Production Sharing Contract Contractor for the Indonesian government, represented by SKK Migas, PHM, along with its subsidiaries and affiliates, continues to carry out various innovations and apply technology to deliver oil and gas energy that is safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly, in order to support the sustainability of national oil and gas production and realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. For further information about PHM and PHI, please visit https://phi.pertamina.com.