The Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Task Force (SKK Migas), in collaboration with Premier Oil Andaman Ltd, has initiated the drilling of the Gayo-1 well exploration in the Andaman II Working Area (WK) on Sunday. The decision for this drilling was influenced by the significant findings in the Andaman II WK in 2022.
Hudi D. Suryodipuro, Head of the Program and Communication Division at SKK Migas, said that active exploration in the Andaman Sea aimed to uncover the potential hydrocarbon reserves by drilling the Gayo-1 exploration well.
Gayo-1 well is located in the Andaman Sea, Aceh Province, and is currently undergoing vertical drilling using the West Capella Rig (Drillship) with a planned final depth reaching 11,733 ft True Vertical Depth (TVD) RT. The drilling focuses on evaluating the hydrocarbon content in the Bampo Sandstones reservoir.
The objectives include obtaining reservoir and fluid data through Logging While Drilling (LWD), wireline logging, coring, and downhole sampling in the open-hole, with estimated resources reaching GIP 1.205 TCF and Recoverable 723 BCF & 33.5 MMSTB. Hudi expressed hopes for positive outcomes from this drilling operation.
“The current operational status indicates that the Gayo-1 well is in the process of drilling the 36 Conductor holes with a target depth of 4,230 ft TVD SS. The drilling program is planned to last for the next 78 days, including well testing activities,” Hudi said.
He added, “We hope that this exploration well will become a source of significant oil and gas discoveries, similar to what we found through the Layaran-1 well drilling some time ago.”
In mid-December, SKK Migas and Mubadala Energy announced a significant gas discovery in the Layaran-1 Exploration Well, South Andaman Cooperation Contract (KKS), approximately 100 kilometers off the northern coast of Sumatra. Mubadala Energy is the operator of the Gross Split South Andaman KKS, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
The Layaran-1 discovery, with a potential of up to 6 tcf gas-in-place, is considered substantial and places it among the top three discoveries globally. To ensure the reliability of Indonesia’s future energy, SKK Migas emphasizes the need to expedite the production process for optimal utilization of these discoveries.
“Appraisal activities will begin in 2024, with Plan Of Development (POD) in 2025-2026, and onstream production by 2028-2029,” stated Benny Lubiantara, Deputy for Exploration, Development, and Management at SKK Migas.
