TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Muhamad Husen, upstream director of the state oil company Pertamina, says the company’s oil production will be gradually increased starting the second semester of this year. Pertamina is expecting a large production volume from the West Madura Offshore Block. “From September to October this year, production from the West Madura Block is expected to reach 30,000 barrels per day,” said Husen on Thursday. Offshore block production is expected to increase after the construction of three new rigs is complete. The increased production is also expected to be optimized through enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology, which will be applied at Pertamina’s three oil fields: Limau, Tanjung and Jatibarang. The effort is expected to yield an extra 3,000 barrels each day. The EOR technology has been scheduled for long-term and continuous application for the next five years. Husen added that there are at least 20 fields where production will be optimized using the system this year. “Some EOR systems will be implemented by Pertamina while others will be in cooperation with other companies,” said Husen. The foreign companies that will work together with Pertamina include the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Company (Kufpec), Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) and HESS Venture. GUSTIDHA BUDIARTIE