Italian energy firm Eni has started gas production from the Merakes project offshore Indonesia. Gas supplies from the field will help extend the life of Pertamina’s Bontang LNG facility in East Kalimantan.
Merakes is a deep-water gas field located in the East Sepinggan block in the Makassar Strait, offshore the province of East Kalimantan. It produces natural gas at a water depth of 1,500 meters from the Kutei Basin.
Moreover, the five deep-water subsea wells will guarantee a production capacity of 450 million standard cubic feet per day, equivalent to 85,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, according to Eni.
In addition, the field connects to the Eni-operated Jangkrik floating production unit, at a distance of 45 km from Merakes field.
Together with the gas flowing from the Jangkrik gas field, Merakes has a producing capacity up to 750 MMSCFD.
The gas produced from Merakes goes through subsea pipelines to the Jangkrik FPU. Following processing, it arrives at the onshore receiving facility in Senipah via the existing Jangkrik export pipelines.
Eni says Merakes gas would be partially sold to the domestic market but it would also contribute to the extension of the life of the Bontang facility, which operates for more than 40 years and supplies LNG to both the domestic and export markets. Bontang is located north of Senipah.
Eni operates the East Sepinggan block with an 65% share ownership through its affiliate, Eni East Sepinggan.
The other partners include Neptune Energy East Sepinggan B.V. with 20% share and PT Pertamina Hulu Energi with the remaining 15% share.