The production has increased by phases, a project officer Awang Lazuardi told Pertaminas Upstream Director Syamsu Alam,who visited the oil field on Friday.
The Cepu block contract is jointly owned by EMCL and the state owned oil company Pertamina
The oil production of the oil field in the sub-district of Gayam increased from 135,000 barrels per day in January, 2016, Awang said.
"Gradually the production rose to reach 180,000-185,000 barrels per day in the past two months," he said.
The oil production is sent to a storage ship, the Gagak Rimang, in the Tuban sea through a 94 kilometer distribution pipe.
Awang and Syamsu Alam said the oil production of the Banyuurip oil field could still be increased to 200,000 barrels per day.
"Technically, there is no problem in increasing the production but authority to raise the production, however, is in the hand of the SKK Migas (the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator)," Syamsu Alam said.
He predicted, however, the peak production could last only for five years.
The Cepu block contributes around 20 percent to the countrys total production of 800,000-830,000 barrels of crude oil per day at present, he said.
More major oil reserve as big as Cepu block , therefore, would be needed to be found to meet the countrys consumption of 1.3 million-1.4 million barrels per day to feed its oil refinery, he said.
Indonesia, once a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has become a net importers of oil with production declining while consumption grows from year to year.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
