Monday, 8 December 2014

FLOATING OIL-GAS STORAGE SYSTEM INNAUGUARATED, READY TO SUPPORT BUKIIT TUA PROJECT



The oil-gas development project at Bukit Tua, block Ketapang in the Madura Northern Sea in East Java was well underway, completion was 65% to be ready by October 2014. Among the supporting projects to the Bukit Tua project was a floating production storage and off-loading [FPSO] tanker which was just being innauguarated at the Keppel Doc in Singapore on Tuesday [21/10].

The FPSO which was 233 meters long, 43 meters wide 20 meters tall was named Ratu Nusantara symbolizing Indonesia-Malaysia collaboration at the Indonesian waters. The ceremony was attended by the Executive Director of Oil-and-Gas Task Force SKK Migas J. Widjonarko, Minister of the State od Sabah Y.A.B. Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman and Country Chairman of Petronas Carigali Indonesia Hazli Sham B Kasim.

“The Bukit Tua field was scheduled to start production in April 2015” Widjonarko was quoted as saying. The initial production would be 5,000 barrels of oil per day and 20 million cube feet of natural gas per day.

Gas production would be supplied to domestic buyers, i.e. Petrogas Jatim Utama for gas and steam powered powerhouse in Gresik. On Friday [17/10] last a contract amandement of gas transaction between Ketapang and Petrogas had been signed. “By this amendment, state’s income would predictably increase by USD 105 million or USD 1.2 trillion.” Widjanarko remarked.

Ratu Nusantara had processing capacity of 25.000 barrels of oil per day and 77 million cubic gas per day 20 thousand barrels per day. This tanker was also designed to store up to 630 barrels of processed oil. Soon the oil produced would be pipelined to buyer’s tanker. Ratu Nusantara was Scorpius Tanker belonging to Keppel Corporation, assembled in 1994 and taken over in Q 4 of 2013. It took 16 months to convert this tanker into FPSO.

Petronas Carigali Ketapang Ltd as operator of Bukit Tua oilfield, had signed collaboration contract to hire FPSO with PT M3 Ketapang Sejahtera, a consortium enterprise between M3 Energy Malaysia and PT TransSamudra Usaha Sejahtera from Indonesia. The contact was valid for 5 years and could be prolonged for two period of 1 year.

Public Relations Head of SSK Rudianto Rimbono explained that to fulfill the cabotage principle applicable in Indonesia this tanker now hoist Indonesia flag. “To fulfill local content requirement, topside parts would be fabricated in Batam” he said.

Hazil remarked further that Petronas had their commitment to develop operational zones managed in Indonesia. “We are conducting further studies to see the potential resources fields at block Ketapang which soon would use FPSO Ratu Nusantara to Maximize utility capacity” he said.

Eight percent of Block Ketapang shares was owned by Petronas and the rest was owned by PT Saka Ketapang Perdana. Bukit Tua was located in Java sea, 35 km north of Madura island or around 110 km North East of Garut, East Java. All the fields were operated by Conoco Phillips, in partnership with Petronas. Since July 25, 2008 this field was fully managed by Petronas. (SS)

Business News - October 25, 2014

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