ExxonMobil Cepu Ltd. continues its efforts to increase oil production in the Cepu Block this year. The operator of the oil and gas block has set a target to reach a full production capacity starting this month.
The company’s Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Erwin Maryoto said that since early March, the block’s production had already reached 170 thousand barrels per day, which is well above the target. (Read: Cepu Exceeds Production Peak)
In the plan of development (PoD) of the Banyu Urip field, this year’s peak production target is 165 thousand barrels per day. This is equivalent to 20 percent of the total national oil production target this year.
Despite having exceeded the target, ExxonMobil still wants to ramp up production to maximum capacity. "We will gradually increase production to 185 thousand barrels per day in May," he told Katadata, Monday (3/5).
The maximum capacity of the central production facility (CPF) in the Banyu Urip field is 185 thousand barrels per day. However, this project has not been fully completed. (Read: BPK Investigates State Loss Potential from Oil Sales in Cepu Block)
As of last month, the project was 98 percent complete. Completion of the Banyu Urip project is planned for the middle of this year. This fact, however, is not being used as an excuse by its contractor to delay production.
Although its production facility has yet to be completed, ExxonMobil will continue to ramp up its production to the maximum limit. That is why its sales of oil production will also increase. As of the end of last month, "We had sold more than 50 times [the volume sold] from the Gagak Rimang FSO," he said.
President Director of PT Pertamina EP Cepu Adriansyah said that the oil produced from the wellhead in the Banyu Urip field will be sent to the CPF. The production facility will separate out the water and other unwanted content. (Read: Oil Lifting Exceeds Expectationds as Contractors Perform Better)
Afterwards, the oil will be sent for storage at the Gagak Rimang FSO before being sold. "Normally, sales at the Gagak Rimang FSO take place once every three or four days," he said. However, because current production is quite high, at the moment oil sales take place every one or two days.
The success of the Cepu Block in increasing its oil production amid the slump in global oil prices has caught the attention of President Joko Widodo. In fact, Widodo plans to be present at the peak production of the Cepu Block in the middle of this month. (Read: President to Celebrate Cepu Block’s Peak Production This Month )
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