Kutai Kartanegara - PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), as the operator in the Mahakam Working Area (WK) with the support of SKK Migas and PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) as the holding company, held the first cut of steel ceremony for Bekapai Phase 3 (BKPP3), in Teluk Pamedas Village, Samboja District, Kutai Kertanegara Regency, Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

The first cut of steel ceremony began with the handover of lighters from the General Manager of PHM, Agus Amperianto, to the President Director of PT Arung, Hartowo, which was then followed by igniting the cutting torch as a start sign of the fabrication process for the BKPP3 project. The BKPP3 project is part of the Operational Field Development (OPLL-1), which aims to prepare and integrate new production facilities for 5 wells in 2 existing Bekapai offshore platforms, namely Manifold Wellhead Platform BH (MWP-BH) and Manifold Wellhead Platform. BE (MWP-BE) along with other related facilities.

Present at the event were the Deputy Regent of Kutai Kartanegara, H. Rendi Solihin; Muspika of Samboja; SKK Migas Operations Specialist, Elfan Yusridha; Vice President Production & Project PT Pertamina Hulu Energi, Wisnu Hindadari; President Director of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), Chalid Said Salim; General Manager of PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), Agus Amperianto; and President Director of PT Asta Rekayasa Unggul (PT Arung), Hartowo. Activities are carried out face-to-face with strict health protocols in place.

In his remarks, General Manager of PHM Agus Amperianto said that the steel cutting ceremony for the BKPP3 project today marked the start of the fabrication process for the BKPP3 project where the modification and construction of this project was carried out by PT Arung, which has a fabrication yard location in Kutai Kartanegara Regency. "The implementation of the modification work on the two platforms will begin in April 2022. Meanwhile, the implementation of the modification work for the two platforms will be carried out at the work site (in-situ) during the offshore work period that is planned to start in April 2022. With this BKPP3 project, it is expected to increase the amount of production (incremental production) in the Bekapai field by 22.14 billion cubic feet of gas and 2.85 million barrels of oil and condensate," added Agus.

On the same occasion, PHI President Director Chalid Said Salim stated that, PHI will continue to invest in exploration and exploitation drilling to increase reserves and optimise production from onshore and offshore oil and gas fields. "The overall BKPP3 project is targeted to be completed within 18 months from the effective date of the contract on July 15, 2021," he added. Chalid also reminded that, this project can be completed on time and still giving close attention to the safety aspect as the top priority in communication and cooperation that has been established until now, especially with the Kutai Kartanegara Government.

Wisnu Hindadari, Vice President Production & Project of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi also conveyed his thoughts regarding the project. In addition to this project, it is expected to be completed on time but still aiming to produce products with good quality and remain zero accident. "Pertamina's partnership in implementing this project with local contractors located in Kutai Kartenegara Regency is a clear proof of Pertamina's commitment to empower local contractors in the company's oil and gas operations, which is also expected to be able to improve the economic level of the local communities," said Wisnu.

Elfan Yusridha, SKK Migas Operations Specialist said the BKPP3 project is an initial fabrication project and becomes very important as one of the guidelines towards the national oil and gas production and lifting target in 2030 of 1 million barrels of oil per day and 12 billion standard cubic feet gas per day. Elfan also said that in implementing this project, SKK Migas hopes PHM to always use local production goods in the country. This is an effort to promote and encourage local businesses to participate in the upstream oil and gas industry that are full of high technology. Elfan also gave appreciation to PHM and PT Arung in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, they can still managed to carry out projects according to the established timeline while still paying attention to health protocols.

In the event, the handover of aid was also carried out to 2 orphanages located around the PHM work operation area, namely the Nurul Islam Orphanage and the Hidayatul Hayat Orphanage. This is held as gratitude and as a form of concern for others. The assistance was symbolically given by Chalid Said Salim, as the President Director of PHI and Hartowo, as the President Director of PT Arung to 4 representing orphans of each orphanage institution.

Through its subsidiaries in the area of ​​operation, PHI still remains committed in meeting national energy needs through innovation and optimization. In this purpose, the development of innovation is an absolute must with the aim of production target to achieve at the cost that remains economical. This first cut of steel ceremony is the starting point in the Bekapai 3 development project, which is expected to be the solution in increasing oil and gas reserves, especially from the Bekapai Field to support the continuity of oil and gas operations in Mahakam WK for national energy fulfilment. Currently, PHM production has successfully exceeded the oil lifting target with a realization of 25 thousand barrels of oil per day or 109% and the gas lifting target with a realization of 489 MMSCFD or 108%.