Kutai Kartanegara – PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS) successfully implemented the Through-Tubing Electric Submersible Pump (TTESP) technology, an innovative, compact electric pump that can be operated without the need for a rig. The implementation of TTESP technology resulted in a significant increase in productivity of up to 150 percent for oil wells in the Southern Area Operation of the Sanga Sanga Working Area in East Kalimantan.

During the period from 2023 to the present, this technology recorded an average daily production per well that increased from 60 barrels of oil per day (bopd) to 150 bopd. The Southern Area Operation of PHSS covered several fields, including the Mutiara, Pamaguan, and Beras Fields.

PHSS Field Manager, Iva Kurnia Mahardi, stated that the application of innovation and technology played an important role in maintaining the Company’s oil and gas production levels in line with the commitment of PHE and PT Pertamina (Persero) to provide sustainable energy for Indonesia’s development and future, as aligned with the government’s Asta Cita. “We applied innovation and technology as a strategic step to slow down the decline in production, increase recovery rates, maintain production levels, and mitigate the natural decline in mature oil and gas fields across Kalimantan,” she explained.

According to her, the TTESP innovation provided an effective solution for mature fields, particularly those operating with small-diameter pipes. “This technology not only improves production stability but also boosts oil well output by up to 150 percent,” she said. She added that the Company believed that the application of innovation and technology would enhance its adaptability to increasingly complex operational and business challenges, thereby ensuring production sustainability.

The Sanga Sanga Working Area, managed by PHSS, mainly consisted of mature oil and gas fields with multi-layer reservoir characteristics that relied heavily on monobore drilling techniques and gas lift systems. These systems presented challenges in maintaining production stability due to technological limitations. “To address these challenges, PHSS developed TTESP, a pump system designed to be installed directly through production tubing with a diameter below three inches, without requiring a workover rig, only using a spooler unit,” Iva added.

In addition to a significant productivity increase, the implementation of TTESP technology also generated potential additional revenue of up to USD 32 million, resulting from higher oil production, improved efficiency, and enhanced operational reliability. The installation process, which only required one working day, also provided high efficiency compared to conventional methods that required much more time and cost.

The TTESP innovation received full support from SKK Migas and gained recognition in various oil and gas innovation award programs. From 2023 to 2025, TTESP won more than seven national and international awards, including those from UIIA Subholding Upstream Pertamina, Pertamina APQA, and a nomination in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’ National Energy Efficiency Award. Additionally, it received the Jury Prize from the China Association of Invention in 2025.

The successful implementation of TTESP reinforced PHSS’s position as one of the most adaptive and innovative companies in managing mature fields. The application of this technology was expected to serve as a model for other fields in supporting the government’s target of achieving one million barrels of oil per day and 12 BSCFD of gas by 2029 or 2030.

Through continuous innovations, such as TTESP, PHSS continued to demonstrate its contribution to strengthening national energy resilience while enhancing its role as a competitive, efficient, and sustainability-oriented oil and gas company that supports Indonesia’s development.

PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in Zona 9, managing upstream oil and gas operations and businesses in accordance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Sanga Sanga Working Area in East Kalimantan. As a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) contractor for the Indonesian government, represented by SKK Migas, PHSS, along with other PHI subsidiaries and affiliates, implements innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the areas of Economics, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support sustainable community empowerment and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. More information about PHSS and PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.