Balikpapan - To support the sustainability of national oil and gas production from the Kalimantan region, PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) has commenced its series of drilling activities in the Mahakam Working Area (WK) for 2025 with the spudding of well B-J-9 on the Bekapai Platform, East Kalimantan, on April 5, 2025.

General Manager of PHM, Setyo Sapto Edi, affirmed that the Company continues to invest in exploration and exploitation drilling activities to discover new resources, increase reserves, and maintain oil and gas production. "The drilling plan for Well B-J-9 to a total depth of 3,884 meters measured depth (mMD)/3,088 meters true vertical depth (mTVD) is our strategic step to maintain oil and gas production from the Mahakam WK, which is crucial for national energy supply," explained Setyo.

According to him, PHM consistently adheres to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in all of the Company's operations and business activities, including this drilling project. "We believe that the implementation of these ESG principles will ensure that every energy we produce is not only beneficial today but also sustainable for the future of Indonesia," said Setyo.

As part of its commitment to work safety, PHM ensures that all workers on the rig have undergone mandatory training related to Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE), including HSSE Introductions, Corporate Life Saving Rules (CLSR), and PERTAMINA Well Control (PETROL). This aims to guarantee the preparedness of all personnel to face operational challenges in the field. "Collaboration between PHM and the rig service contractor, as well as the full support provided by SKK Migas, is part of a shared commitment to maintaining national energy resilience and sustainability," he added.

Senior Manager of Drilling Well Intervention at PHM, Muhammad Sobirin, explained that one of the main challenges of the Well B-J-9 drilling activity is the well trajectory, which has a maximum inclination or angle of up to 60 degrees. "To overcome this challenge, PHM utilizes the latest advanced technology to ensure that drilling activities can proceed safely, efficiently, and according to target," he revealed.

Therefore, according to Sobirin, PHM brought the Jack-up Rig Zhong You Hai 16 (ZYH-16) for this drilling project. The rig's mobilization from China to the waters off Balikpapan used dry tow, which involves carrying the jack-up rig on a heavy lift vessel, a ship designed to transport very heavy and oversized cargo. "The presence of this rig is significant for efforts to increase production in the Mahakam WK. The ZYH-16 jack-up rig will operate there for four years," he stated.

Sobirin hopes that the rig's presence will significantly contribute to drilling activities for both development and exploration wells in the Mahakam WK. "With the advantages of its drilling technology, the ZYH-16 Rig is prepared to face the complexities of offshore drilling in the Mahakam WK with high efficiency and superior safety standards," he concluded.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) that manages upstream oil and gas operations and business activities by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the Mahakam Working Area, East Kalimantan. In collaboration with SKK Migas, PHM, along with PHI's subsidiaries and affiliates, continuously drives innovation and technological advancements to deliver safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly energy in support of #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. For more information about PHI, visit https://phi.pertamina.com.