SKK Migas: More Haze, Less Oil
17 March 2014 12:20 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) has revealed that the haze from Riau has caused oil production to drop by 12,000 barrels per day since March 11 until today.
SKK Migas' Head of Public Relation Handoyo Budi Santoso, said on Sunday, March 16, 2014, that hundreds of oil wells have been shut down due power shedding measures.
"A prolonged smoke disaster will disrupt national production because Riau is the largest contributor [of oil production]," Handoyo said.
According to Handoyo, the Rokan Block, which is operated by Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), has experienced the worst effect. Handoyo said that poor air quality in the area where CPI operates had resulted in power shedding to drop by 70 MegaWatts.
"Five hundred and seventy three wells had to be closed and 19 water injection pumps were shut down due to the power shedding," he said.
In addition, several maintenance activities have to be postponed because of poor visibility. "In this working area, the potential loss of production is 8,800 barrels per day," he said.
Handoyo explained that CPI's production halt has increased the operational cost of oil drilling because 15 oilrigs have stopped working for 800 hours' because all CPI's working areas have been included in the 'red zone' since March 2014, limiting workers' outdoor activities.
In addition to CPI, the BOB-Bumi Siak Pusako, which operates in the Coastal Plains and Pekanbaru (CPP) block has also stopped operating, losing 4,000 barrels of oil production per day.
The Malacca Strait Bloc, which is operated by EMP Malacca strait, has also been affected by the haze and loses around 7,000 barrels per day.
AW | ANT