Malaysia’s national upstream company Petronas Carigali is forging ahead with field development work offshore East Malaysia, where it will bring on stream new gas reserves later this year.
Petronas as early as this week is set to start the development drilling campaign for its Bakau non-associated gas (NAG) development offshore Sarawak.
The operator will mobilise the jack-up drilling rig Idun from its subsidiary Vestigo Petroleum’s Berantai field offshore Peninsular Malaysia for the Bakau NAG drilling programme.
It is estimated that Borr Drilling’s Idun will arrive at the BKD-A platform on 4 June with the Bakau NAG project development drilling expected to take from around that date until 19 August.
The Far Stream anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel has been chartered for the rig move.
In tandem, Petronas has started the hook-up and commissioning work at the BNCPP-B platform in preparation for it to receive gas from the BKD-A platform after the development drilling is completed.
The Berkat Teguh platform supply vessel, the IDS Cahaya AHTS and the Viking AHTS are engaged in the offshore hook-up and commissioning for the Bakau NAG development.
The Bakau field is located on Petronas’ Baram Delta EOR production sharing contract, which also hosts the Bokor and Betty, Baram, Siwa and West Lutong fields.
The entire Baram Delta Operations EOR (enhanced oil recovery) programme will ultimately boost recovery from the mature Baram, Baronia, Betty, Bokor, Tukau and West Lutong fields from around 30% to an expected 45%.
Shell considering selling out
Shell is Petronas’ sole co-venturer in Petronas’ Baram Delta EOR PSC, although the Anglo-Dutch supermajor earlier this year revealed it was considering the sale of its 40% stake.
“Shell Malaysia remains committed to supporting the operator in delivering safe and smooth operations until completion of a sale to a credible buyer," the company said.
Petronas currently is also undertaking pipeline maintenance and replacement and equipment repair works in the vicinity of its Baronia A and B platforms offshore Sarawak as part of its Bardegg-2 and Baronia EOR project.
Compatriot Sapura Energy in 2019 won the contract for the procurement, construction, hook-up and commissioning, as well as start-up work, for the BNJTK BN-84 well tie-in for the Bardegg-2 and the Baronia EOR development project.
