This Student Innovation Increases Mahakam Block's Old Well Production

Jakarta, October 13, 2022 - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) noted that Indonesia's oil reserves have continued to erode in the past decade. In 2011, Indonesia's oil reserves were recorded at 7.73 billion barrels. In 2021, Indonesia's oil reserves were only 3.95 billion barrels, with proven reserves of 2.25 billion barrels and 1.7 billion barrels of potential reserves.

East Kalimantan province, one of the largest oil-producing regions in Indonesia, has also experienced a decline in the oil and gas reserves. The Central Statistics Agency of East Kalimantan Province noted that the oil production amount in East Kalimantan Province continues to decline every year from 2019 at 21 million barrels to 2021 at 17 million barrels.

Fransisca Indah Permatasari, a student of the Petroleum Engineering Study Program at Pertamina University, proposed a solution to boost oil and gas production even in old wells. Her research was awarded the Best Oral Presentation award at The 46th IPA Convention and Exhibition competition for the 2022 Student Paper category.

“I did this research by taking data from the Mahakam Block. Currently, the Mahakam Block has oil and gas wells that are quite old, so oil production will inevitably be in a shallower reservoir. The challenge is, if the production is in shallow reservoirs, it is worried that what is obtained is not oil and gas, but sand,” explained Fransisca in an online interview on Saturday (08/10).

To avoid this, Fransisca offers a sand control method to prevent sand from being picked up during exploitation. “The way it works is by using a water-based resin. This resin functions like a glue that can bind and hold sand and rocks at the bottom of the well,” said Fransisca.

The water-based resin innovation offered by Fransisca is also a solution to exploit oil and gas at a more affordable cost. In her paper entitled "Evaluation of Tight Injectivity For Sand Consolidation Treatment: A Case Study in Mahakam", it is stated that the product innovation with the water-based resin method can reduce costs up to 20 percent lower than conventional methods (solvent-based resin).

“If the solvent-based resin method is used, 81.17 barrels are needed for production, while the water-based resin method is 20 percent lower at only 64.08 barrels. It means that the costs will also be lower,” conveyed Fransisca.

Another advantage of using water-based resin is that it is safer to be injected into the well. Because it uses fewer chemicals, the water-based resin's viscosity level is lower. It can reduce the pressure needed in the resin injection process into the well. Thus, that the oil and gas exploitation process become safer.

Participants from various regions attended the 46th IPA Convention and Exhibition. In addition to students, a number of practitioners and agencies participated in this activity. In the Student Paper Competition, Fransisca, representing Pertamina University with nine other selected universities, had the opportunity to present her research at the IPA Convention and Exhibition.

Students interested in technology development and energy business issue can put the Petroleum Engineering Study Program as an option. There are various kinds of admission opportunities and scholarships open for the upcoming 2022/2023 Academic Year. Further information regarding study programs and registration terms and conditions can be accessed on the https://pmb.universitaspertamina.ac.id page.**