PHE Output Under Pressure as Rokan Disruptions and West Qurna Closure Weigh on 2026 Production

PetroChina International Jabung Ltd. (PCJL) has successfully completed the initial production test of the Gemah-81 development well in the Jabung Working Area, Jambi, marking another milestone for Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas sector. The drilling activity was conducted under the supervision of SKK Migas, the country’s upstream oil and gas regulator.Head of SKK Migas Djoko Siswanto confirmed the positive test results, highlighting the well’s strong production performance following completion on February 11, 2026.Based on well test analysis conducted at a 32/64-inch choke, Gemah-81 produced 4.8 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of gas at a wellhead pressure (WHP) of 1,080 psig, along with approximately 400 barrels per day (bpd) of condensate. The well targets three reservoirs, with the primary zone located at a depth interval of 7,259–7,281 feet measured depth (MD). The results indicate promising hydrocarbon potential within the Gemah field.To accelerate production, PetroChina plans to connect the well to the existing Gemah Station production facility within approximately two weeks. The tie-in will involve the installation of around 300 meters of pipeline, enabling the well to commence regular production promptly.Building on this success, the company is scheduled to drill two additional wells — Gemah-85 and NEB-85 ST — within the next month. SKK Migas expressed hope that these wells will deliver even higher production rates, further strengthening output from the Jabung Block.Looking ahead, PetroChina reaffirmed its commitment to expanding exploration activities and optimizing existing assets in the block through technology deployment, cost efficiency, and collaborative efforts, supporting sustained production growth in the years to come.

Surabaya, SPE ITS SC – PT MedcoEnergi Internasional Tbk, commonly known as MedcoEnergi, is a leading Indonesian company engaged in the Oil & Gas, Power Generation, and Copper & Gold Mining businesses. In the Oil and Gas sector, MedcoEnergi focuses on exploration and production activities, primarily within Indonesia.As of today, Friday, October 24, 2025, the Sustainable Development Report on its official website highlights Indonesia’s progress toward achieving SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy. The report shows that Indonesia is moderately improving, although significant challenges remain. This demonstrates Indonesia’s continuous efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its broader vision of realizing Indonesia Emas 2045.On Monday, October 13, 2025, MedcoEnergi announced through an official press release that the company has been reducing its gas fuel consumption to improve operational efficiency and support the national energy transition agenda. Several initiatives have been implemented across its oil and gas assets. One of the key initiatives is the optimization of the Waste Heat Boiler (WHB) operating mode at the Grissik field, Corridor Block, South Sumatra. WHB is a type of boiler that recovers and utilizes residual heat and exhaust gases from production processes that is still have sufficient power to generate steam, in order to improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact. This optimization has successfully reduced carbon emissions by approximately 19,000 tCO₂e per year.Additional optimization efforts have also been carried out at both offshore and onshore sites. At the Natuna Offshore field, MedcoEnergi optimized operations at the Terubuk-Belida facility by rerouting production flow to operate without compressors, resulting in an annual emissions reduction of about 24,000 tCO₂e. Onshore, the company has implemented electrification—the conversion of systems or processes powered by fossil fuels to electricity-based systems—by switching from gas-fueled generators to the national clean power grid (PLN), alongside optimizing operational modes. Electrification helps reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency, and support the transition to clean and renewable energy.“Fuel gas efficiency and emission reduction are not merely technical targets but integral to MedcoEnergi’s long-term sustainability roadmap. Since 2022, our initiatives have cumulatively reduced fuel gas consumption by around 18 MMscfd. This achievement reflects our commitment to sustainable innovation, operational excellence, and responsible energy development, creating long-term value for stakeholders while reducing our carbon footprint,” said Ronald Gunawan, Director & Chief Operating Officer of MedcoEnergi.This demonstrates that MedcoEnergi, as a major player in the oil and gas industry, is not solely driven by profitability but also operates responsibly, consciously contributing to environmental sustainability starting from within its own operations.Moving forward, MedcoEnergi will continue strengthening its sustainability agenda through both medium and long-term roadmaps, while also implementing new technologies such as the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC)—a thermodynamic cycle that uses organic fluids instead of water to convert heat into electricity, Steam Turbine Generators which convert steam heat into power, and energy storage systems. These initiatives reaffirm MedcoEnergi’s role as an adaptive and responsible energy company, fully committed to supporting Indonesia’s energy resilience and sustainable future.Writer: Aura Hammada

The Piper Alpha disaster, which occurred in the evening of July 6, 1988, remains the deadliest offshore oil tragedy in history. Located in the North Sea and operated by Occidental Petroleum, Piper Alpha was originally commissioned in 1976 as an oil production platform but later modified to address gas production too. These changes, however, were implemented without adequate redesign or risk analysis, introducing weakness that would eventually be disastrous. That evening, a routine maintenance product escalated into an uncontrollable fire, killing 167 of the 226 individuals on board. Just 61 workers survived the disasters.The tragedy started while performing maintenance on Pump A, where a safety valve was taken out of the pipe and was sealed temporarily using a loose blind flange. Due to failure in the permit-to-work procedure, this important information had not been passed onto the night shift. When Pump B failed during the middle of the night, the crew unknowingly re-started Pump A, which caused a massive gas leak. Shortly after, there was a massive explosion, followed by subsequent explosions and uncontrolled fires. The fire suppression system, which was in manual for diving operations, did not get its activation signal in time.The Cullen Inquiry revealed systematic failures: poor shift communication, faulty platform design, and a safety culture that prioritized production. Gas units were sited perilously close to the control room, and there were few barriers to stop fire spread. Emergency preparedness and equipment maintenance were similarly found to be woefully inadequate.The disaster caused immense loss—167 lives, over £1.7 billion in damages, and a 670-ton oil spill with serious environmental impact. In response, the UK overhauled offshore safety regulations. All 106 recommendations from the Cullen Report were adopted, including a shift to a “goal-setting” safety approach and the introduction of the “Safety Case” system. Requiring companies to provide detailed documentation of hazards, risk management, and mitigation strategies. Regulatory oversight was also transferred to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to eliminate conflicts of interest.The Piper Alpha disaster marked a turning point in industrial safety worldwide. It emphasized the paramount importance of effective shift communication, disciplined maintenance of safety equipment, good design, and a safety-first attitude at the workplace. It also demonstrated that it is rarely one error that results in catastrophe, but a sequence of ignored risks and poor decisions.

On the 13th of October 2023, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Student Chapter hosted an inspiring event titled 'Delegates Talk 1.0.' The objective of this program was to provide a platform for successful delegates to share their experiences and tips with members interested in excelling in the competitive world of oil and gas competitions.Asta Raziq, the PIC of the event, explained that the idea behind this was to meet the curiosity of numerous members who were eager to learn how to succeed in competitions. This program aimed to fulfill that desire by arranging face-to-face discussions with speakers who have excelled in oil and gas competitions. Asta Raziq stated, "Our main goal is to shed light on competitions since many members have shown an interest in this field. However, we also want to introduce them to SPE ITS SC on a deeper level. With this delegates' talk, we aim to demystify oil and gas competitions while showcasing fields that may be suitable for our members."The event commenced with presentations by two accomplished speakers, Samuel Zagota and Haya Aqila, who had previously achieved success in various oil and gas competitions, including being the 1st Winner in the Petroleum Business Case Competition at IPFEST ITB 2023. They shared insights into the structure, technicalities, and distinctive characteristics of case studies and business case competitions, providing valuable information to the enthusiastic members.Following these informative presentations, an engaging Q&A session was conducted where several members took the opportunity to ask the speakers about various competitions in the oil & gas field, such as oil rig design and paper competition. Many of the participants were freshmen, new to these competitions and unsure of where to begin. They sought advice and tips from the speakers on how to kick start their journey in these competitions. The exchange of questions and answers fostered a dynamic and engaging atmosphere, making it a valuable part of the event.The event continued with Asta Razqi, the Project Officer for the 2023 SPE ITS SC's Petroleague, presenting the 'Petroleague Roadshow.’ Petroleague is the annual internal competition of SPE ITS SC, this competition is suitable for beginners who want to start their competition journey. The highlight of the event was the Focused Group Discussion (FGD), where both speakers delved into their personal experiences and journeys in the oil & gas competitions. They patiently interacted with the members, addressing their questions and providing insights into their journeys in competitions. The speakers' willingness to discuss the hurdles they had overcome, the strategies they had employed, and the moments of inspiration that had fueled their success not only served as a source of motivation but also demystified the often intimidating world of oil and gas competitions.Through 'Delegates Talk 1.0,' SPE ITS SC not only catered to the interests of its members but also expanded their knowledge about the diversity of competitions within the oil and gas sector. Importantly, it encouraged members and delegates to participate in competitions organized by SPE ITS SC, including the annual Petroleague, and to explore many competitions outside of ITS. “Moreover, there will be a series of introduction series events with various competitions such as Oil Rig Design Competitions, Business Case Competition, Paper & Poster Competition, and Case Study Competitions with hope that members will be able to understand more about the competition and be able to take part in events that will be held in the future.” Asta concludedWritten By: Arya Nugraha Aulia Rahman Yusup