Jakarta. Upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas and Petrogas (Basin) Ltd. had begun drilling the Karim #1 exploration well in the Kepala Burung working area in Southwest Papua's Sorong.

The operations were part of Petrogas (Basin) Ltd's work commitment for the Kepala Burung area. According to an SKK Migas press statement, the company aims to drill up to a depth of 4,300 feet using the 750 HP Petrogas (Basin) Ltd's Rig #3. The drilling will specifically target the Kais Formation carbonate rocks. SKK MIgas said that the drilling would take one and a half months. Any activities will also prioritize the occupational safety standards.

"We hope the drilling can go well and provide the best results. We also hope that it can improve the locals' welfare," Sorong Deputy Regent Ahmad Sutedjo said.

Mardianto, who leads the SKK Migas Representative Office for Papua and Maluku, said that the activity coincided with the special autonomy day in Papua. SKK Migas also hopes that this project can provide an economic boon to the local communities.

"Thanks to a new exploration concept approach and the state-of-the-art technology, Karim is a ready-to-drill project. This well has a high strategic value, and it can unlock the potential for developing the surrounding areas," RH Petrogas Companies in Indonesia President Ferry Hakim said. 

According to Ferry, the company hopes that this will unlock new oil and gas reserves that can support energy security.

The preparatory work already has a positive impact on the economy, particularly in the infrastructure sector. Petrogas (Basin) Ltd. had renovated the Klagana Bridge, four other connecting bridges, and improved access to and from villages near the well site. The company is also providing opportunities for local workers from surrounding villages to contribute directly as additional non-technical labor during the drilling process.

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